Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch 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
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $1103/mo less ($1,250 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $261k less ($376,800 vs $637,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $84,417/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
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $84,417 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Asheville
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Asheville
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$261k less
$376,800 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$84,417
$148,227 vs $63,810/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
83% lower
138.1 vs 796.1 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $637,400 median home), income ($63,810 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.