Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Concord leads 16 of 23 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Concord
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,565 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 53°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Concord
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($288,100 vs $616,000)
62% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $19,565/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$19,565
$103,045 vs $83,480/yr
Concord
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
62% lower
159.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$328k less
$288,100 vs $616,000
Concord
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $288,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,259 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $83,480 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 52.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 105,335 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 69.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 16 of 23 categories. Carson wins 7 and Concord wins 16. 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 Carson to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $288,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Concord, NC are about 2,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.