Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 22 categories
Concord
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($706,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($2,137 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 23.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Median income trails Irvine by $15,159/yr
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irvine, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Concord
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $15,159 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$319k less
$706,700 vs $1,025,700
Concord
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Irvine
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Irvine
Median Income
$15,159
$122,948 vs $107,789/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
83% lower
84.0 vs 484.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Irvine is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 22 categories. Concord wins 8 and Irvine wins 14. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($107,789 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Irvine, CA are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.