Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 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
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Households earn $35,803 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 35°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($198,500 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $35,803/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Income
$35,803
$83,480 vs $47,677/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
82% lower
159.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$90k less
$198,500 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Concord is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 17 of 23 categories. Concord wins 17 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $198,500 median home), income ($83,480 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Springfield, MA are about 637 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.