Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,079 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Durham
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Durham
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $390k less ($316,600 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,137)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $33,079/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$33,079
$107,789 vs $74,710/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
22% lower
484.6 vs 619.2 per 100k
Durham
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$390k less
$316,600 vs $706,700
Durham
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,296 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $74,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 23 categories. Concord wins 12 and Durham wins 11. 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 Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $316,600 median home), income ($107,789 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Durham, NC are about 2,362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.