Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Concord leads 14 of 22 categories
Concord
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Mesa
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
67% less violent crime than Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $40k less ($288,100 vs $327,700)
Households earn $9,714 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 53°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Median income trails Concord by $9,714/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$9,714
$83,480 vs $73,766/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
67% lower
159.0 vs 482.7 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$40k less
$288,100 vs $327,700
Mesa
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Concord is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 14 of 22 categories. Concord wins 14 and Mesa wins 8. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $327,700 median home), income ($83,480 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Mesa, AZ are about 1,770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.