Asheville NC vs San Francisco CA — 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 Francisco, CA
California · Population: 836,321
- Median HH Income$141,446
- Median Home Price$1,369,171
- Unemployment5.6%
- Bachelor's+60.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
836,321
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
39.7
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
34.2%
White
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
40.5%
Black
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
5.1%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
35.0%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
15.9%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 836,321 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 39.7 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 34.2% | - |
| White | N/A | 40.5% | - |
| Black | N/A | 5.1% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 35.0% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 15.9% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
$141,446
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
$90,285
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
San Francisco
$77,230
San Francisco +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
5.6%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
10.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
60.1%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $141,446 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $90,285 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $77,230 | San Francisco + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 5.6% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 10.6% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 60.1% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Asheville +
San Francisco
$1,369,171
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
38.5%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $1,369,171 | Asheville + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 38.5% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Asheville +
San Francisco
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Asheville +
San Francisco
2388
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 503 | Asheville + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 2388 | Asheville + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
San Francisco
17.5%
San Francisco +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
San Francisco
9.7%
San Francisco +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
San Francisco
14.5%
San Francisco +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
San Francisco
6.6%
San Francisco +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
San Francisco
19.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
San Francisco
9.1%
San Francisco +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 17.5% | San Francisco + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 9.7% | San Francisco + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 14.5% | San Francisco + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 6.6% | San Francisco + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 19.6% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 9.1% | San Francisco + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
San Francisco
55.3°F
San Francisco +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
San Francisco
20.7 in
San Francisco +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 55.3°F | San Francisco + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 20.7 in | San Francisco + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
San Francisco
7.9 µg/m³
San Francisco +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
San Francisco
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | San Francisco + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
San Francisco
33.9 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 33.9 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Asheville offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $461,425. On public safety, Asheville is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Francisco. San Francisco has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Francisco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.5%.
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