Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($376,800 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.1%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $16,461/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $16,461 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Asheville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$400k less
$376,800 vs $777,100
Asheville
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Asheville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$16,461
$80,271 vs $63,810/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
45% lower
436.2 vs 796.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 13 and Westminster wins 10. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $777,100 median home), income ($63,810 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Westminster, CA are about 2,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.