Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Columbia leads 15 of 19 categories
Columbia
Maryland
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Concord
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($458,700 vs $706,700)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Households earn $16,748 more per year on average
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,895 vs $2,137)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Concord, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
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)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$16,748
$124,537 vs $107,789/yr
Columbia
Median Home Value
$248k less
$458,700 vs $706,700
Columbia
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $107,789 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 128⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 125,007 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Columbia leads 15 of 19 categories. Columbia wins 15 and Concord wins 4. 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 Columbia to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $706,700 median home), income ($124,537 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Concord, CA are about 2,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.