Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton 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
Denton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Denton by $8,111/yr
Denton, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Asheville
Homes cost $81k less ($296,100 vs $376,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,111 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.8% 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
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Denton
Median Income
$8,111
$71,921 vs $63,810/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
74% lower
204.2 vs 796.1 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$81k less
$296,100 vs $376,800
Denton
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Denton, 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 | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,264 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $71,921 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 38.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 142,262 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Denton 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $296,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Denton, TX are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.