Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($288,100 vs $366,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,352)
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $18,285/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
51% less violent crime than Concord
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,285 more per year on average
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$78k less
$288,100 vs $366,200
Hoover
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$18,285
$101,765 vs $83,480/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
51% lower
78.0 vs 159.0 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 7 and Hoover wins 16. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $366,200 median home), income ($83,480 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Hoover, AL are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.