Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Concord leads 18 of 22 categories
Concord
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
61% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Households earn $23,541 more per year on average
Homes cost $70k less ($288,100 vs $358,400)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $23,541/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Concord
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$23,541
$83,480 vs $59,939/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
61% lower
159.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$70k less
$288,100 vs $358,400
Concord
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Concord is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 18 of 22 categories. Concord wins 18 and Elizabeth wins 4. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $358,400 median home), income ($83,480 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Elizabeth, NJ are about 505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.