Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Asheville leads 16 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ 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 4.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $16,133 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°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
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($198,500 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,250)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $16,133/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$16,133
$63,810 vs $47,677/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
11% lower
796.1 vs 891.4 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Median Home Value
$178k less
$198,500 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 16 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Springfield, MA are about 703 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.