Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
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 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($219,800 vs $376,800)
69% less violent crime than Asheville
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Median Income
$620
$64,430 vs $63,810/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
69% lower
247.6 vs 796.1 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$157k less
$219,800 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Hampton wins 12. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $219,800 median home), income ($63,810 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Hampton, VA are about 363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.