Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Concord leads 17 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Concord
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($202,900 vs $288,100)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $25,131/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.7%)
Concord, NC
Pros
90% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $25,131 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 44°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$85k less
$202,900 vs $288,100
Concord
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$25,131
$83,480 vs $58,349/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
90% lower
159.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $288,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,259 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $83,480 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 3.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 105,335 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 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. Baltimore 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 Baltimore to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $288,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Concord, NC are about 349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.