Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 22 categories
Concord
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,881 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($318,600 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $924/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,137)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $48,881/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$48,881
$107,789 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$388k less
$318,600 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 22 categories. Concord wins 10 and Wilmington wins 12. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($107,789 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.