Asheville or Raleigh: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Asheville and Raleigh are even: 4 : 4 across 11 indicators.
- Money: tie 2:2
- Climate and risks: tie 2:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Asheville
Indicator
Raleigh
Money
Tie (2 : 2)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$67,592
202414% lower
✓$79,028
202417% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,702
2026-09-302% higher
✓$1,669
2026-09-302% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$416,031
2026-09-303% lower
✗$428,267
2026-09-303% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓96.5 100 = US average
20242% lower
✗98.2 100 = US average
20242% higher
Climate and risks
Tie (2 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗48 AQI
20242% higher
✓47 AQI
20242% lower
Days with unhealthy air
tie
1 days per year
2024
1 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓61 days per year
2016-202539% lower
✗99 days per year
2016-202564% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗4 days per year
2016-2025338% higher
✓1 days per year
2016-202577% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,881 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,505 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
746 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,144 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
100 days per year
2016-2025
73 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,128 mm per year
2016-2025
1,339 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
70 %
2021-2025
67 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓24 days per year
2021-202567% lower
✗72 days per year
2021-2025203% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
383 km
2006-2025
147 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
422,333 people
2024
1,562,009 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Asheville, Raleigh.