Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $547/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $76k less ($376,800 vs $452,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $35,081/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
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $35,081 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Asheville
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$76k less
$376,800 vs $452,300
Asheville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$35,081
$98,891 vs $63,810/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
60% lower
317.7 vs 796.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 116⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 106,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 13 and Hillsboro wins 10. 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 Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $452,300 median home), income ($63,810 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Hillsboro, OR are about 2,203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.