Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $20,675 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°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 5% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($101,500 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($809 vs $1,250)
53% less violent crime than Asheville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $20,675/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$20,675
$63,810 vs $43,135/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
53% lower
375.6 vs 796.1 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$275k less
$101,500 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 18.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 43.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 94,826 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 12 and Erie wins 11. 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 Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $101,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Erie, PA are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.