Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Elgin
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
40% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 30°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $2,518/yr
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $46k less ($242,500 vs $288,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,518 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
40% lower
159.0 vs 266.7 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.1°F
Elgin
Median Income
$2,518
$85,998 vs $83,480/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$46k less
$242,500 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Concord is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 23 categories. Concord wins 13 and Elgin wins 10. 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $242,500 median home), income ($83,480 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Elgin, IL are about 618 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.