Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 22 categories
Concord
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
San Jose
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $862k less ($288,100 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1267/mo less ($1,259 vs $2,526)
74% less violent crime than San Jose
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $52,530/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,530 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 53°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Violent Crime
74% lower
159.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$862k less
$288,100 vs $1,149,600
Concord
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$52,530
$136,010 vs $83,480/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Concord is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 22 categories. Concord wins 13 and San Jose wins 9. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($83,480 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and San Jose, CA are about 2,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.