Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 21 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Concord
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (5229.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $574k less ($706,700 vs $1,280,300)
24% less violent crime than Berkeley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $3,073 more per year on average
Cons
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)
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 118.2 on the COL index
Concord
Median Income
$3,073
$107,789 vs $104,716/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
24% lower
484.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$574k less
$706,700 vs $1,280,300
Concord
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $706,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 125,007 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 21 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Concord wins 12. 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 Berkeley to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $706,700 median home), income ($104,716 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Concord, CA are about 18 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.