Concord vs Virginia Beach
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $353,700 in Concord and $382,500 in Virginia Beach.
- Households earn more in Virginia Beach ($92,968 vs $86,921 median).
- Concord has more scorching days: 60 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 32.
- Concord is growing faster: +8.8% since 2020 vs -1.2%.
- Commutes are shorter in Virginia Beach (23 vs 27 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Concord, NC | Virginia Beach, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 114,598 | 453,737 |
| Growth since 2020 | +8.8% | -1.2% |
| People per square mile | 1,771 | 1,854 |
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41% | 41% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $86,921 | $92,968 |
| Median home value | $353,700 | $382,500 |
| Home value to income | 4.1× | 4.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,451 | $1,714 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 97.3 | 97.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 97.6 | 99.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,000 | $73,500 |
| Homeowners | 65% | 65% |
| Top state income tax | 3.99% | 5.75% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.1% | 5.77% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 26.9 | 23.4 |
| Work from home | 17% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.5% | 4% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 8.6% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 53° / 29° | 50° / 32° |
| July high / low | 92° / 69° | 87° / 70° |
| Precipitation per year | 48 in | 47 in |
| Snowfall per year | 3 in | 3 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 60 | 32 |
| Nights below freezing | 74 | 50 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Low |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.1 | 57.9 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 46% | 78% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.5% | +3.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +49.9% | +43.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Concord: April to May and September to October. Virginia Beach: April to June and October.
Full monthly tables: Concord weather by month and Virginia Beach weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,000 in Concord and $73,500 in Virginia Beach. Moving from Concord to Virginia Beach, you would need about $75,500 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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