Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Concord leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $20,823 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($478,400 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,137)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Concord by $20,823/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$20,823
$107,789 vs $86,966/yr
Concord
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Home Value
$228k less
$478,400 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kent is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 16 and Kent wins 7. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $478,400 median home), income ($107,789 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Kent, WA are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.