Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $14,619 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($192,000 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($893 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $14,619/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$14,619
$63,810 vs $49,191/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
6% lower
796.1 vs 845.6 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$185k less
$192,000 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 15 and Cincinnati wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Asheville to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $192,000 median home), income ($63,810 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Cincinnati, OH are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.