Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Concord leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Fontana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($288,100 vs $506,600)
41% less violent crime than Fontana
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,616)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $9,750/yr
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,750 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 53°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Concord
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
41% lower
159.0 vs 270.2 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$219k less
$288,100 vs $506,600
Concord
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$9,750
$93,230 vs $83,480/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 66.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Concord is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 16 and Fontana 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 Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $506,600 median home), income ($83,480 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Fontana, CA are about 2,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.