Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Fullerton, 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
Fullerton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $503k less ($288,100 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $730/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,989)
65% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $15,799/yr
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,799 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 53°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
65% lower
159.0 vs 455.3 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$503k less
$288,100 vs $791,000
Concord
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$15,799
$99,279 vs $83,480/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Concord is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 16 and Fullerton 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $791,000 median home), income ($83,480 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Fullerton, CA are about 2,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.