Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($376,800 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $20,426/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Downey, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $20,426 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$302k less
$376,800 vs $679,000
Asheville
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$20,426
$84,236 vs $63,810/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
42% lower
460.5 vs 796.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 113,052 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 14 and Downey wins 9. 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $679,000 median home), income ($63,810 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Downey, CA are about 2,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.