Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,426)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $22,017/yr
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $22,017 more per year on average
Homes cost $86k less ($290,800 vs $376,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$22,017
$85,827 vs $63,810/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
80% lower
156.4 vs 796.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$86k less
$290,800 vs $376,800
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 10 and New Braunfels wins 13. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $290,800 median home), income ($63,810 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and New Braunfels, TX are about 991 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.