Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Concord leads 20 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Kent
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($288,100 vs $478,400)
68% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $483/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $3,486/yr
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°F
Households earn $3,486 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
68% lower
159.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$190k less
$288,100 vs $478,400
Concord
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$3,486
$86,966 vs $83,480/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 20 of 23 categories. Concord wins 20 and Kent wins 3. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $478,400 median home), income ($83,480 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Kent, WA are about 2,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.