Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Asheville leads 16 of 22 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ 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 4.5 pts lower (4.1%)
12% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,273 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($215,500 vs $376,800)
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.1%)
Median income trails Asheville by $6,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$6,273
$63,810 vs $57,537/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
12% lower
796.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$161k less
$215,500 vs $376,800
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Asheville leads 16 of 22 categories. Asheville wins 16 and Philadelphia wins 6. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $215,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Philadelphia, PA are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.