Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $23,734/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
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
88% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $23,734 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $33k less ($343,700 vs $376,800)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$23,734
$87,544 vs $63,810/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
88% lower
92.3 vs 796.1 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$33k less
$343,700 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($63,810 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Virginia Beach, VA are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.