Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $16,389 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°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 5% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($174,100 vs $376,800)
47% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $16,389/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$16,389
$63,810 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
47% lower
425.9 vs 796.1 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$203k less
$174,100 vs $376,800
Waco
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 101⚠ 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 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Waco wins 14. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Waco, TX are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.