Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Asheville leads 16 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,076 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
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
Fall River, MA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,250)
Homes cost $49k less ($328,100 vs $376,800)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $11,076/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$11,076
$63,810 vs $52,734/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Violent Crime
7% lower
742.9 vs 796.1 per 100k
Fall River
Median Home Value
$49k less
$328,100 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 39.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 16 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 16 and Fall River 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 Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $328,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Fall River, MA are about 749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.