Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 23 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
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Households earn $6,067 more per year on average
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)
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $320/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,137)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.9%)
Median income trails Concord by $6,067/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$6,067
$107,789 vs $101,722/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
48% lower
484.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 23 categories. Concord wins 12 and Washington wins 11. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $705,000 median home), income ($107,789 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.