Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian 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
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($288,100 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,548)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $9,816/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,816 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$138k less
$288,100 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$9,816
$93,296 vs $83,480/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
8% lower
146.8 vs 159.0 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 7 and Meridian 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $425,800 median home), income ($83,480 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Meridian, ID are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.