Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Baltimore, MD
🏆 Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $47,665 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($202,900 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,706)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $47,665/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$47,665
$106,014 vs $58,349/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
82% lower
285.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Baltimore
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$350k less
$202,900 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $202,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $58,349 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 423⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 43.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 19.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 584,548 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Baltimore's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 15 and Baltimore wins 8. 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 Arvada to Baltimore or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $202,900 median home), income ($106,014 vs $58,349), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Baltimore, MD are about 1,514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.