Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Concord leads 17 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($288,100 vs $624,800)
83% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,853)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $3,138/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 53°F
Households earn $3,138 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
83% lower
159.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$337k less
$288,100 vs $624,800
Concord
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$3,138
$86,618 vs $83,480/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Concord is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 17 of 23 categories. Concord wins 17 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $624,800 median home), income ($83,480 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Richmond, CA are about 2,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.