Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Concord
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $481k less ($226,200 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $1032/mo less ($1,105 vs $2,137)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $53,694/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.9%)
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,694 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Columbia
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$481k less
$226,200 vs $706,700
Columbia
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.0°F
Concord
Median Income
$53,694
$107,789 vs $54,095/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
37% lower
484.6 vs 769.9 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 125,007 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 10 and Concord wins 13. 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 ($226,200 vs $706,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Concord, CA are about 2,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.