Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Concord
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,534 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Concord
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($288,100 vs $553,000)
44% less violent crime than Arvada
Rent averages $447/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,706)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $22,534/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$22,534
$106,014 vs $83,480/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Concord
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
44% lower
159.0 vs 285.6 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$265k less
$288,100 vs $553,000
Concord
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $288,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,259 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $83,480 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 3.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 105,335 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 69.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $288,100 median home), income ($106,014 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Concord, NC are about 1,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.