Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Concord leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Households earn $42,037 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 36°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dayton
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($86,200 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $429/mo less ($830 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $42,037/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$42,037
$83,480 vs $41,443/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
88% lower
159.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$202k less
$86,200 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 41.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 16 and Dayton 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $86,200 median home), income ($83,480 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Dayton, OH are about 361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.