Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Knoxville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $15,501 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($184,200 vs $376,800)
7% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $15,501/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$15,501
$63,810 vs $48,309/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
7% lower
740.3 vs 796.1 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$193k less
$184,200 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Asheville wins 11 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $184,200 median home), income ($63,810 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Knoxville, TN are about 83 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.