Side-by-side comparison of Durham, NC and Asheville, NC — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Durham has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.43% compared to Asheville's 3.32%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $345,000 in Durham vs $380,000 in Asheville, while rents come in at $1,520/mo and $1,580/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Durham is growing faster at 1.8% annually vs Asheville's 1.5%. Asheville leads on home value appreciation at 3.6% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.8% in Durham vs 0.64% in Asheville. Vacancy rates of 4.8% and 4.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Durham edges out Asheville on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.43%, Durham's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Durham or Asheville.