Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Fishers
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,478)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $62,738/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
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $62,738 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Asheville
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.5%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $38k less ($339,000 vs $376,800)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fishers
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$62,738
$126,548 vs $63,810/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
91% lower
72.9 vs 796.1 per 100k
Fishers
Median Home Value
$38k less
$339,000 vs $376,800
Fishers
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.5% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $339,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 26.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 99,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 8 and Fishers wins 15. 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $339,000 median home), income ($63,810 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Fishers, IN are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.