Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Spokane
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
76% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $20,164 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 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, WA
Pros
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Concord by $20,164/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$20,164
$83,480 vs $63,316/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
76% lower
159.0 vs 674.9 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% 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, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $286,900 median home), income ($83,480 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Spokane, WA are about 2,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.