Asheville vs Richmond
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $353,000 in Richmond and $440,000 in Asheville.
- Households earn more in Asheville ($71,102 vs $64,587 median).
- Richmond has more scorching days: 45 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 16.
- Richmond is growing faster: +4.7% since 2020 vs -1.3%.
- Commutes are shorter in Asheville (18 vs 22 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 93,523 | 237,257 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1.3% | +4.7% |
| People per square mile | 2,056 | 3,959 |
| Median age | 40.7 | 34.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53% | 46% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $71,102 | $64,587 |
| Median home value | $440,000 | $353,000 |
| Home value to income | 6.2× | 5.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,402 | $1,372 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 96.5 | 97.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 93.4 | 99.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,400 | $73,400 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 44% |
| Top state income tax | 3.99% | 5.75% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.1% | 5.77% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.2 | 21.7 |
| Work from home | 20% | 20% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 5.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 18.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 48° / 29° | 48° / 29° |
| July high / low | 86° / 65° | 90° / 69° |
| Precipitation per year | 41 in | 46 in |
| Snowfall per year | 12 in | 9 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 16 | 45 |
| Nights below freezing | 77 | 74 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Low |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 89.3 | 78.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | 73% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.4% | +3.4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +45.3% | +47.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Asheville: April to October. Richmond: April to May and October.
Full monthly tables: Asheville weather by month and Richmond weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,400 in Asheville and $73,400 in Richmond. Moving from Asheville to Richmond, you would need about $76,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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