Asheville, NC vs Greenville, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AshevilleAsheville, NC | GreenvilleGreenville, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
35 traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Greenville, SC compare with 12 in Asheville, NC, a gap that places Asheville in the 33rd percentile and Greenville in the 79th for this 2025 metric. Job growth over the past year also diverges: Asheville posted -1.3% while Greenville gained +1.8%, a 3.1-point difference that puts Asheville in the 5th percentile and Greenville in the 72nd. Unemployment in the 2023 Census figures runs 4.4% in Asheville versus 3.7% in Greenville, with Asheville in the 81st percentile.
Per-capita income shows Greenville at $56,953, 36% higher than Asheville’s $41,818, placing Greenville in the 85th percentile and Asheville in the 61st. The median age in Asheville is 40.7 years, 5.9 years older than Greenville’s 34.8, with Asheville in the 69th percentile and Greenville in the 24th. Average household size is 2.4 in Asheville versus 1.9 in Greenville, a 23% difference that ranks Asheville in the 43rd percentile and Greenville in the 3rd. State and local tax burden is 9.9% in Asheville, 1.0 point higher than Greenville’s 8.9%, with Asheville in the 48th percentile and Greenville in the 20th.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 750 in Asheville versus 466 in Greenville, 61% higher in Asheville, which sits in the 95th percentile compared with Greenville’s 84th. Property crime follows a similar pattern: 4,377 in Asheville against 2,861 in Greenville, 53% higher. Median home values are $411,000 in Asheville and $453,300 in Greenville, 10% higher in Greenville, while median rents are close at $1,303 and $1,248. Healthcare access scores are identical at 100/100 for both cities, each in the 90th percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12666th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $411,00073rd pctl | $453,30078th pctl | Median home value: Asheville, NC $411,000; Greenville, SC $453,300; Greenville is 10% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,30357th pctl | $1,24853rd pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,22142nd pctl | $68,46043rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $79,85074th pctl | $88,06879th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Asheville, NC $79,850; Greenville, SC $88,068; Greenville is 10% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $117,38074th pctl | $129,46079th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Asheville, NC $117,380; Greenville, SC $129,460; Greenville is 10% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Greenville needs about
$76,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 126 vs 129). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.4%81st pctl | 3.7%52nd pctl | Unemployment: Asheville, NC 4.4%; Greenville, SC 3.7%; Asheville is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -1.3%5th pctl | +1.8%72nd pctl | Job growth (YoY): Asheville, NC -1.3%; Greenville, SC +1.8%; Greenville is 3.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $41,81861st pctl | $56,95385th pctl | Per-capita income: Asheville, NC $41,818; Greenville, SC $56,953; Greenville is 36% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.6%64th pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 18 min13th pctl | 19.9 min27th pctl | Average commute: Asheville, NC 18 min; Greenville, SC 19.9 min; Greenville is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.7%80th pctl | 13.7%65th pctl | Work from home: Asheville, NC 18.7%; Greenville, SC 13.7%; Asheville is 5.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Asheville, NC C+; Greenville, SC B+; Greenville is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 75095th pctl | 46684th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Asheville, NC 750; Greenville, SC 466; Asheville is 61% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,37798th pctl | 2,86190th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Asheville, NC 4,377; Greenville, SC 2,861; Asheville is 53% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Asheville, NC A-; Greenville, SC F; Asheville is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Asheville, NC A-; Greenville, SC A+; Greenville is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Greenville, SC; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 584 mi76th pctl | 611 mi77th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Great | Good | Target proximity: Asheville, NC A+; Greenville, SC A; Asheville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 511 mi70th pctl | 561 mi78th pctl | Distance to international border: Asheville, NC 511 mi; Greenville, SC 561 mi; Greenville is 10% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 239 mi48th pctl | 196 mi42nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Asheville, NC 239 mi; Greenville, SC 196 mi; Asheville is 22% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 94,36987th pctl | 71,75582nd pctl | Population: Asheville, NC 94,369; Greenville, SC 71,755; Asheville is 32% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,07562nd pctl | 2,32567th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Asheville, NC 2,075; Greenville, SC 2,325; Greenville is 12% higher. |
| Median age | 40.769th pctl | 34.824th pctl | Median age: Asheville, NC 40.7; Greenville, SC 34.8; Asheville is 5.9 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.0%82nd pctl | 55.0%84th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Asheville, NC 52.0%; Greenville, SC 55.0%; Greenville is 3.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.443rd pctl | 1.93rd pctl | Average household size: Asheville, NC 2.4; Greenville, SC 1.9; Asheville is 23% larger. |
More about Asheville's residents · Greenville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | AshevilleAsheville, NC | GreenvilleGreenville, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+5 | R+11 |
| 2024 presidential | R +10.0 pts | R +24.0 pts |
Full politics data: Asheville · Greenville
Moving between Asheville and Greenville
- Median rent: $1,303 in Asheville, $1,248 in Greenville
- Median home value: $411,000 in Asheville, $453,300 in Greenville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 126 in Asheville, 129 in Greenville
- Median household income: $67,221 in Asheville, $68,460 in Greenville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $117,380 in Asheville, $129,460 in Greenville
- Unemployment: 4.4% in Asheville, 3.7% in Greenville
- Average commute: 18 min in Asheville, 19.9 min in Greenville
- Violent crime per 100k: 750 in Asheville, 466 in Greenville
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More places like Asheville and Greenville
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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