Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Henderson
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $391/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,641)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $51k less ($376,800 vs $427,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Henderson by $21,501/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
Henderson, NV
Pros
66% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $21,501 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$51k less
$376,800 vs $427,900
Asheville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Henderson
Median Income
$21,501
$85,311 vs $63,810/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
66% lower
272.4 vs 796.1 per 100k
Henderson
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $427,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,641⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $85,311 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 318,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Henderson wins 14. 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 Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $427,900 median home), income ($63,810 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Henderson, NV are about 1,812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.