Asheville NC vs San Antonio TX — 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
San Antonio, TX
Texas · Population: 1,458,954
- Median HH Income$62,917
- Median Home Price$251,035
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+28.7%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
1,458,954
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
34.6
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
14.3%
White
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
48.3%
Black
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
7.0%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
3.1%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
64.4%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 1,458,954 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 34.6 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 14.3% | - |
| White | N/A | 48.3% | - |
| Black | N/A | 7.0% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 3.1% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 64.4% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
$62,917
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
$32,983
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
San Antonio
$63,758
San Antonio +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
5.8%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
17.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
28.7%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $62,917 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $32,983 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $63,758 | San Antonio + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 5.8% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 17.1% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 28.7% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
San Antonio
$251,035
San Antonio +
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
52.4%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $251,035 | San Antonio + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 52.4% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Asheville +
San Antonio
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Asheville +
San Antonio
2339
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 442 | Asheville + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 2339 | Asheville + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Asheville +
San Antonio
34.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Asheville +
San Antonio
15.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
San Antonio
17.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Asheville +
San Antonio
24.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
San Antonio
16.0%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Asheville +
San Antonio
13.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 34.9% | Asheville + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 15.2% | Asheville + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 17.2% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 24.5% | Asheville + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 16.0% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 13.0% | Asheville + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Asheville +
San Antonio
68.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
San Antonio
34.9 in
San Antonio +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 68.5°F | Asheville + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 34.9 in | San Antonio + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Asheville +
San Antonio
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Asheville +
San Antonio
55.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Asheville + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Asheville + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
San Antonio
26.5 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 26.5 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
San Antonio offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $251,035. On public safety, Asheville is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in San Antonio. 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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