Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Concord leads 17 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
34% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Households earn $16,997 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 38°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,259)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $16,997/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$16,997
$83,480 vs $66,483/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
34% lower
159.0 vs 242.1 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$20k less
$288,100 vs $307,700
Concord
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 17 of 23 categories. Concord wins 17 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $307,700 median home), income ($83,480 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,050 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.