Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Sugar Land
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $68,437/yr
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
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $68,437 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Asheville
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Asheville
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$11k less
$376,800 vs $387,900
Asheville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$68,437
$132,247 vs $63,810/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
90% lower
78.0 vs 796.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($63,810 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Sugar Land, TX are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.