Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 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
St. Louis
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
42% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $10,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°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
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($174,100 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($938 vs $1,250)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $10,869/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$10,869
$63,810 vs $52,941/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
42% lower
796.1 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 96.1 on the COL index
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$203k less
$174,100 vs $376,800
St. Louis
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 16 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 16 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and St. Louis, MO are about 474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.