Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
12% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($147,700 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($913 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$1,391
$63,810 vs $62,419/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
12% lower
796.1 vs 901.2 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$229k less
$147,700 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 14 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $147,700 median home), income ($63,810 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Springfield, IL are about 485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.