Asheville NC vs Brockton MA — 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
Brockton, MA
Massachusetts · Population: 105,080
- Median HH Income$77,089
- Median Home Price$506,468
- Unemployment8.3%
- Bachelor's+21.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
105,080
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
36.5
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
32.9%
White
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
29.2%
Black
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
38.3%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
2.2%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
12.9%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 105,080 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 36.5 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 32.9% | - |
| White | N/A | 29.2% | - |
| Black | N/A | 38.3% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 2.2% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 12.9% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
$77,089
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
$35,524
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
Brockton
$85,405
Brockton +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
8.3%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
13.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
21.3%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $77,089 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $35,524 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $85,405 | Brockton + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 8.3% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 13.9% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 21.3% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Asheville +
Brockton
$506,468
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
57.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $506,468 | Asheville + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 57.0% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Brockton
326
Brockton +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Brockton
1086
Brockton +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 326 | Brockton + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1086 | Brockton + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Asheville +
Brockton
35.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Asheville +
Brockton
13.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
Brockton
21.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Brockton
8.4%
Brockton +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Brockton
15.3%
Brockton +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Asheville +
Brockton
17.7%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 35.9% | Asheville + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 13.4% | Asheville + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 21.4% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 8.4% | Brockton + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 15.3% | Brockton + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 17.7% | Asheville + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Brockton
49.2°F
Brockton +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Asheville +
Brockton
49.9 in
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 49.2°F | Brockton + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 49.9 in | Asheville + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Brockton
7.2 µg/m³
Brockton +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Brockton
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | Brockton + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
Brockton
34.1 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 34.1 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Asheville offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $461,425. On public safety, Brockton is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. Brockton has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Asheville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.5%.
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