Moving from Carlsbad, CA to Concord, CA

Moving from Carlsbad, CA to Concord, CA covers 464 mi and about 8h 48m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully β€” the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.

464 mi Β· 8h 48m by car Β· CA

COL +3.3% Home values -45.8% Ξ” -0.5Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
464 mi
Drive time
8h 48m
States
1
Fuel (25 mpg)
19 gal
Route throughCA
Primary highwaysI 5, I 5 TRUCK, I 580
Major cities en routeAntioch, Fairfield, Vallejo, Berkeley, Richmond

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

CarlsbadConcordU.S. avg
All items (RPP)111.887115.613100.0
Rents174.247172.585100.0
Goods107.963108.465100.0
Services179.267194.718100.0

Overall cost of living in Concord and Carlsbad is within Β±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) β€” plan your budget on category-level differences instead.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Carlsbad β€” typical home
$1,370,649
Concord β€” typical home
$742,769
Carlsbad β€” typical rent
$3,446/mo
Concord β€” typical rent
$2,512/mo

Typical home value in Concord is 3.3% below Carlsbad β€” $1,370,649 vs $742,769 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Carlsbad -3.9%, Concord -3.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsCarlsbadConcord
Annual avg temperature63Β°F62Β°F
January avg low48Β°F41Β°F
July avg high74Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation11.4"16.1"

Annual average temperatures in Carlsbad (62.5Β°F) and Concord (62.0Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: CARLSBAD PALOMAR AP, CA US, CONCORD BUCHANAN FLD, CA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023CarlsbadConcord
Population114,500124,260
Median household income$139,326$109,195
Median age42.838.6
Bachelor's degree or higher36.8%26.1%
Avg household size2.62.72

Median household income in Concord is 3.3% below Carlsbad ($139,326 vs $109,195, ACS 5-year 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Carlsbad MSA β€” median wage
$53,090
Concord MSA β€” median wage
$72,050
Carlsbad MSA β€” employment
1,522,620
Concord MSA β€” employment
2,422,210

Top occupations in Concord MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 244,380 $59,630
Management Occupations 237,070 $171,350
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 211,250 $104,950
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 194,040 $39,200
Sales and Related Occupations 183,930 $49,390

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October β€” register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.

Frequently asked

Is Concord more expensive than Carlsbad?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Concord is 3.3% higher than Carlsbad (115.613 vs 111.887, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does the job market in Concord compare to Carlsbad?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $72,050 in the Concord MSA vs $53,090 in the Carlsbad MSA, on total employment of 2,422,210 and 1,522,620 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How far is Concord, CA from Carlsbad, CA?

The driving distance is 464 mi and the route typically takes 8h 48m via I 5 and I 5 TRUCK. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

When is the best time to move from Carlsbad to Concord?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 464 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How much do homes cost in Concord compared to Carlsbad?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $742,769 in Concord vs $1,370,649 in Carlsbad β€” a 45.8% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Carlsbad vs Concord?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $109,195 in Concord vs $139,326 in Carlsbad β€” a 21.6% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Carlsbad.

City profiles: Carlsbad, CA Β· Concord, CA.

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