Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213 ✓ 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%)
Households earn $12,287 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 5% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($162,000 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($917 vs $1,250)
22% less violent crime than Asheville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $12,287/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$12,287
$63,810 vs $51,523/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
22% lower
620.4 vs 796.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$215k less
$162,000 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 12 and Roanoke wins 11. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $162,000 median home), income ($63,810 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Roanoke, VA are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.