Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Asheville leads 11 of 21 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Savannah
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ 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 3.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,062 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°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
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($203,300 vs $376,800)
97% less violent crime than Asheville
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $9,062/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$9,062
$63,810 vs $54,748/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
97% lower
20.3 vs 796.1 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$174k less
$203,300 vs $376,800
Savannah
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Asheville leads 11 of 21 categories. Asheville wins 11 and Savannah wins 10. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $203,300 median home), income ($63,810 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Savannah, GA are about 258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.