Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 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
Grand Rapids
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,155 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.9%)
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 23% higher than Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $503k less ($203,900 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $999/mo less ($1,138 vs $2,137)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $46,155/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$46,155
$107,789 vs $61,634/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
47% lower
484.6 vs 910.1 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$503k less
$203,900 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 23 categories. Concord wins 12 and Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $203,900 median home), income ($107,789 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Grand Rapids, MI are about 1,926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.