Asheville, NC vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Asheville
67.9
#1366 nationally
Boston
66.2
#1568 nationally
Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 44). Boston leads in median household income ($81,744 vs $51,752). Asheville leads in average commute (20.6 min vs 30.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.9 (#1366) | 66.2 (#1568) |
| Population | 95,670 | 684,379 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $458,266 | $787,763 |
| Median Household Income | $51,752 | $81,744 |
| Average Commute | 20.6 min | 30.2 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 83 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| School Rating | 6.2 | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 155 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+24.8 | D+52.5 |
D+
67.9 Score
Asheville, NC
Mountain haven for creatives and foodies
Median Home
$458,266
Population
95,670
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Asheville, NC →
D
66.2 Score
Boston, MA
Innovation hub with historic charm
Median Home
$787,763
Population
684,379
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Northeast
View Boston, MA →