Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Irving
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $173/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $12,876/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irving, TX
Pros
65% less violent crime than Asheville
Homes cost $117k less ($259,500 vs $376,800)
Households earn $12,876 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$12,876
$76,686 vs $63,810/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
65% lower
275.4 vs 796.1 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$117k less
$259,500 vs $376,800
Irving
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Asheville wins 11 and Irving wins 11. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $259,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Irving, TX are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.