Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 15 of 22 categories
Concord
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Huntington Beach
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($706,700 vs $976,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.9%)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($2,137 vs $2,318)
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)
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Concord
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$270k less
$706,700 vs $976,800
Concord
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$6,958
$114,747 vs $107,789/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
57% lower
207.3 vs 484.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Huntington Beach, 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 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Huntington Beach is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 15 of 22 categories. Concord wins 7 and Huntington Beach wins 15. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $976,800 median home), income ($107,789 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.