Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Concord
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($363,800 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,405 vs $2,137)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Concord by $12,058/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Concord, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 21°F
Households earn $12,058 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$343k less
$363,800 vs $706,700
Concord
Median Income
$12,058
$107,789 vs $95,731/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
52% lower
484.6 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Concord
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 125,007 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 12 and Concord wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $706,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Concord, CA are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.