Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,349 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°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)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($235,000 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $902/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,137)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $47,349/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$47,349
$107,789 vs $60,440/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
58% lower
484.6 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$472k less
$235,000 vs $706,700
Houston
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 22 categories. Concord wins 12 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($107,789 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.