Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ 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 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,484 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
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 11% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($158,700 vs $376,800)
81% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $295/mo less ($955 vs $1,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $7,484/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$7,484
$63,810 vs $56,326/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
81% lower
150.0 vs 796.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$218k less
$158,700 vs $376,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and McAllen wins 14. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($63,810 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and McAllen, TX are about 1,130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.