Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Dallas
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
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
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($270,700 vs $376,800)
17% less violent crime than Asheville
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Dallas
Violent Crime
17% lower
658.2 vs 796.1 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$106k less
$270,700 vs $376,800
Dallas
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,305 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $63,985 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 36.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Dallas wins 12. 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $270,700 median home), income ($63,810 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Dallas, TX are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.