Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 22 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,665)
Homes cost $117k less ($376,800 vs $494,100)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $18,976/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,976 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$117k less
$376,800 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$18,976
$82,786 vs $63,810/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Lakewood, 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 | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 22 categories. Asheville wins 15 and Lakewood wins 7. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $494,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Lakewood, CO are about 1,264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.