Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ 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 2.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Joliet by $21,161/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($233,800 vs $376,800)
56% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $21,161 more per year on average
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,250)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Joliet
Median Income
$21,161
$84,971 vs $63,810/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
56% lower
350.0 vs 796.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$143k less
$233,800 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 12 and Joliet 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 Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($63,810 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Joliet, IL are about 510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.