Asheville NC vs Manchester NH — 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
Manchester, NH
New Hampshire · Population: 115,415
- Median HH Income$77,415
- Median Home Price$441,257
- Unemployment3.8%
- Bachelor's+33.5%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
115,415
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
37.9
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
14.8%
White
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
76.7%
Black
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
5.3%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
4.6%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
13.5%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 115,415 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 37.9 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 14.8% | - |
| White | N/A | 76.7% | - |
| Black | N/A | 5.3% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 4.6% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 13.5% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
$77,415
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
$44,220
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
Manchester
$75,331
Manchester +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
3.8%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
10.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
33.5%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $77,415 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $44,220 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $75,331 | Manchester + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 3.8% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 10.7% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 33.5% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Manchester
$441,257
Manchester +
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
49.3%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $441,257 | Manchester + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 49.3% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Manchester
134
Manchester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Manchester
1048
Manchester +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 134 | Manchester + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1048 | Manchester + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Asheville +
Manchester
35.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Manchester
9.4%
Manchester +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
Manchester
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Asheville +
Manchester
9.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
Manchester
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Asheville +
Manchester
12.9%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 35.0% | Asheville + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 9.4% | Manchester + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 17.4% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 9.9% | Asheville + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 16.4% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 12.9% | Asheville + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Manchester
49.2°F
Manchester +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Manchester
44.6 in
Manchester +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 49.2°F | Manchester + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 44.6 in | Manchester + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Manchester
5.9 µg/m³
Manchester +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Manchester
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | Manchester + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
Manchester
25.7 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Manchester, NH | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 25.7 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Manchester offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $441,257. On public safety, Manchester is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. Manchester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Asheville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.5%.
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