Asheville NC vs Cincinnati OH — 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
Cincinnati, OH
Ohio · Population: 309,595
- Median HH Income$51,707
- Median Home Price$252,784
- Unemployment6.8%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
309,595
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
33.0
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
7.1%
White
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
49.4%
Black
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
38.7%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
2.8%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
5.4%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 309,595 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 33.0 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 7.1% | - |
| White | N/A | 49.4% | - |
| Black | N/A | 38.7% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 2.8% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 5.4% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
$51,707
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
$38,878
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
Asheville +
Cincinnati
$58,300
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
6.8%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
24.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
41.3%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $51,707 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $38,878 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $58,300 | Asheville + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 6.8% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 24.5% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 41.3% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Cincinnati
$252,784
Cincinnati +
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
38.9%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $252,784 | Cincinnati + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 38.9% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Cincinnati
319
Cincinnati +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Cincinnati
1866
Cincinnati +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 319 | Cincinnati + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1866 | Cincinnati + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
38.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
14.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
19.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
9.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
17.0%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
16.1%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 38.3% | Asheville + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 14.1% | Asheville + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 19.8% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 9.6% | Asheville + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 17.0% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 16.1% | Asheville + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Cincinnati
54.2°F
Cincinnati +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Asheville +
Cincinnati
47.7 in
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 54.2°F | Cincinnati + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 47.7 in | Asheville + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Asheville +
Cincinnati
10.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Asheville +
Cincinnati
55.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | Asheville + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Asheville + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
Cincinnati
24.8 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cincinnati, OH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 24.8 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Cincinnati offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $252,784. On public safety, Cincinnati is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. Asheville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Asheville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.5%.
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