Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
105,335
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Rent averages $563/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $65k less ($288,100 vs $352,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $4,276/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
31% less violent crime than Concord
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 53°F
Households earn $4,276 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Home Value
$65k less
$288,100 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$4,276
$87,756 vs $83,480/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
31% lower
109.1 vs 159.0 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Concord is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $352,600 median home), income ($83,480 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Surprise, AZ are about 1,807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.