Uprootmap
Durham vs Asheville
Durham and Asheville
Photo: Asheville Photography / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Asheville are under the US rate in this release, 4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Durham to Asheville
In 2022-2023, 149 households filed a move from Durham to Asheville (about 200 people, average adjusted gross income $68,195). 153 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,274 in Durham and $1,296 in Asheville. Durham has a state tax on wages. Asheville has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Asheville is 86% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Durham.
Asheville averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 30°F. Durham is 222 sunny days, 89°F in July, 37°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Asheville and 24 in Durham.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 149 households moved Durham → Asheville (about 200 people, average AGI $68,195). 153 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Durham and Asheville changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 236 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
Explore more
Dig into Asheville
Questions
Is Asheville cheaper than Durham after tax and rent?
No. Asheville leaves about $110 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,274 in Durham and $1,296 in Asheville.
Does Asheville have state income tax?
Asheville is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Durham to Asheville?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.