Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $19,654 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°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
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($111,400 vs $376,800)
27% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $255/mo less ($995 vs $1,250)
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $19,654/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$19,654
$63,810 vs $44,156/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
27% lower
582.3 vs 796.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$265k less
$111,400 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 14 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($63,810 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Rochester, NY are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.