Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Concord leads 17 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Households earn $40,628 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (4.7%)
53% less violent crime than Reading
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 39°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($96,900 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $317/mo less ($942 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $40,628/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$40,628
$83,480 vs $42,852/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
53% lower
159.0 vs 337.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 11.3% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$191k less
$96,900 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 17 of 23 categories. Concord wins 17 and Reading wins 6. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $96,900 median home), income ($83,480 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Reading, PA are about 427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.