Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 22 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Denver
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($376,800 vs $540,400)
20% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $22,043/yr
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
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,043 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Violent Crime
20% lower
796.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Asheville
Median Home Value
$164k less
$376,800 vs $540,400
Asheville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Denver
Median Income
$22,043
$85,853 vs $63,810/yr
Denver
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 22 categories. Asheville wins 15 and Denver wins 7. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $540,400 median home), income ($63,810 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Denver, CO are about 1,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.