Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 23 categories
Concord
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Elizabeth
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,850 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($358,400 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,137)
16% less violent crime than Concord
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $47,850/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$47,850
$107,789 vs $59,939/yr
Concord
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
16% lower
408.7 vs 484.6 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$348k less
$358,400 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 23 categories. Concord wins 13 and Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $358,400 median home), income ($107,789 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.