Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384 ✓ 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 2.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,656 more per year on average
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
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($213,300 vs $376,800)
5% less violent crime than Asheville
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Asheville by $6,656/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$6,656
$63,810 vs $57,154/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
5% lower
752.4 vs 796.1 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$164k less
$213,300 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Portsmouth wins 12. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($63,810 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Portsmouth, VA are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.