Asheville NC vs Fargo ND — 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

Fargo, ND

North Dakota · Population: 129,064

Median HH Income$66,029
Median Home Price$318,584
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+43.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

129,064

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

N/A

Median Age

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

32.2

Foreign Born

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

9.7%

White

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

80.8%

Black

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

8.3%

Asian

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

3.9%

Hispanic

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

3.7%

Spanish at Home

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

N/A

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Population	N/A	129,064	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	32.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	9.7%	-
White	N/A	80.8%	-
Black	N/A	8.3%	-
Asian	N/A	3.9%	-
Hispanic	N/A	3.7%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

$66,029

Per Capita Income

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

$42,212

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Asheville

$59,120

Fargo

$71,089

Fargo +

Unemployment Rate

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

3.9%

Poverty Rate

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

12.8%

Bachelor's Degree+

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

43.2%

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$66,029	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$42,212	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$59,120	$71,089	Fargo +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	3.9%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	12.8%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	43.2%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Asheville

$461,425

Fargo

$318,584

Fargo +

Homeownership Rate

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

44.1%

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$461,425	$318,584	Fargo +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	44.1%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Asheville

398

Fargo

288

Fargo +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Asheville

1999

Asheville +

Fargo

2037

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	288	Fargo +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	2037	Asheville +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Asheville

31.5%

Asheville +

Fargo

34.3%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Asheville

10.4%

Fargo

8.1%

Fargo +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Asheville

15.9%

Fargo

14.5%

Fargo +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Asheville

9.2%

Fargo

6.8%

Fargo +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Asheville

15.7%

Asheville +

Fargo

21.5%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Asheville

12.1%

Fargo

11.8%

Fargo +

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	31.5%	34.3%	Asheville +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	10.4%	8.1%	Fargo +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	15.9%	14.5%	Fargo +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.2%	6.8%	Fargo +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.7%	21.5%	Asheville +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.1%	11.8%	Fargo +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Asheville

55.9°F

Fargo

42.4°F

Fargo +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Asheville

45.6 in

Fargo

22.6 in

Fargo +

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	55.9°F	42.4°F	Fargo +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.6 in	22.6 in	Fargo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Asheville

8.7 µg/m³

Fargo

8.6 µg/m³

Fargo +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Asheville

75.0%

Fargo

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.7 µg/m³	8.6 µg/m³	Fargo +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Asheville

N/A

Fargo

17.3 min

Metric	Asheville, NC	Fargo, ND	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	17.3 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Fargo offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $318,584. On public safety, Fargo is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. Fargo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Asheville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.5%.

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About Asheville & Fargo

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