Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
74% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $31,957 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 47°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($162,000 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($917 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $31,957/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$31,957
$83,480 vs $51,523/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
74% lower
159.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$126k less
$162,000 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $162,000 median home), income ($83,480 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Roanoke, VA are about 136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.