Asheville NC vs Bloomington MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Asheville, NC
North Carolina · Population: N/A
- Median HH IncomeN/A
- Median Home Price$461,425
- UnemploymentN/A
- Bachelor's+N/A
Bloomington, MN
Minnesota · Population: 71,261
- Median HH Income$103,382
- Median Home Price$366,438
- Unemployment4.5%
- Bachelor's+36.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
71,261
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
37.3
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
14.1%
White
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
72.7%
Black
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
8.6%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
9.5%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
5.1%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 71,261 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 37.3 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 14.1% | - |
| White | N/A | 72.7% | - |
| Black | N/A | 8.6% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 9.5% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 5.1% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
$103,382
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
$44,640
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
Bloomington
$69,467
Bloomington +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
4.5%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
6.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
36.1%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $103,382 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $44,640 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $69,467 | Bloomington + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 4.5% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 6.5% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 36.1% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Bloomington
$366,438
Bloomington +
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
85.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $366,438 | Bloomington + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 85.0% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Bloomington
284
Bloomington +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Bloomington
1992
Bloomington +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 284 | Bloomington + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1992 | Bloomington + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Bloomington
26.8%
Bloomington +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Bloomington
8.9%
Bloomington +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Bloomington
14.2%
Bloomington +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Bloomington
8.5%
Bloomington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
Bloomington
17.2%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Bloomington
11.4%
Bloomington +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 26.8% | Bloomington + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 8.9% | Bloomington + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 14.2% | Bloomington + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 8.5% | Bloomington + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 17.2% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 11.4% | Bloomington + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Bloomington
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Bloomington
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Bloomington
8.1 µg/m³
Bloomington +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Bloomington
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | Bloomington + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
Bloomington
27.0 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bloomington, MN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 27.0 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Bloomington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $366,438. On public safety, Bloomington is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. Bloomington has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bloomington scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.8%.
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