Augusta-Richmond County receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Asheville
Augusta-Richmond County
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs68 · Top 25%
Growth
74 · Top 13%
vs68 · Top 21%
Climate
77 · Top 13%
vs71 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 30%
vs66 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 11%
vs94 · Bottom 48%
Access
97 · Top 8%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 40%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Asheville | Augusta-Richmond County | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 414,711 | 624,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,838 | $69,344 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,135 | $36,794 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 280/sq mi | 179/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $370,900 | $226,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,296 | $1,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | 2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 29.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,796 | 3,681 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 11.6 | 5.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 49.9% | -18.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 40°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.6" | 44.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 25.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Asheville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Augusta-Richmond County
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Asheville
70
Your Score
69
Area Score
Augusta-Richmond County
72
Your Score
73
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Asheville, NC Metro Area · Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology