Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Concord leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Concord
North Carolina
17
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($241,600 vs $288,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Concord
Concord, NC
Pros
40% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,462)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$2,463
$85,943 vs $83,480/yr
Aurora
Median Home Value
$47k less
$241,600 vs $288,100
Concord
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
40% lower
159.0 vs 266.0 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $288,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,259 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $83,480 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 3.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 105,335 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 6 and Concord wins 17. 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 Aurora to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $288,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Concord, NC are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.