Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ 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 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Median income trails Salem by $3,730/yr
Salem, OR
Pros
33% less violent crime than Asheville
Homes cost $27k less ($349,500 vs $376,800)
Households earn $3,730 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Median Income
$3,730
$67,540 vs $63,810/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
33% lower
532.2 vs 796.1 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$27k less
$349,500 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Salem, OR are about 2,205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.