City Comparison

Concord vs Hillsboro

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

The Verdict

25.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 25.0%, with Concord being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to $100,000 in Hillsboro.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
89
Concord
175
Hillsboro
Groceries
97
Concord
108
Hillsboro
Utilities
97
Concord
96
Hillsboro
Transportation
92
Concord
126
Hillsboro
Healthcare
104
Concord
103
Hillsboro

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Hillsboro.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $56,250 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Hillsboro

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $533,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 103 in Hillsboro. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $86,900 in Concord and $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $83,359 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 25.0% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $100,000 in Hillsboro, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Hillsboro's is 175 with median homes at $533,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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