Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 21 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
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($706,700 vs $848,200)
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
Orange, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Concord
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$142k less
$706,700 vs $848,200
Concord
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Orange
Median Income
$1,546
$109,335 vs $107,789/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
53% lower
226.1 vs 484.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orange is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 21 categories. Concord wins 8 and Orange wins 13. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($107,789 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Orange, CA are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.