Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 22 categories
Concord
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,553 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Downey, CA
Pros
Rent averages $323/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,137)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Homes cost $28k less ($679,000 vs $706,700)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Concord by $23,553/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$23,553
$107,789 vs $84,236/yr
Concord
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Downey
Violent Crime
5% lower
460.5 vs 484.6 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$28k less
$679,000 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Downey is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 22 categories. Concord wins 12 and Downey wins 10. 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 Concord to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $679,000 median home), income ($107,789 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Downey, CA are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.