Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
77% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $21,102 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($170,700 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($995 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $21,102/yr
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$21,102
$83,480 vs $62,378/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
77% lower
159.0 vs 703.0 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$117k less
$170,700 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 and Des Moines wins 8. 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 Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $170,700 median home), income ($83,480 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Des Moines, IA are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.