Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Bridgeport, CT
🏆 Baltimore leads 17 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Bridgeport
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.9%)
Homes cost $24k less ($202,900 vs $227,200)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $134/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,369)
Households earn $3,909 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 38°F
Cons
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
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
76% less violent crime than Baltimore
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.9%)
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Median income trails Baltimore by $3,909/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Income
$3,909
$58,349 vs $54,440/yr
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$24k less
$202,900 vs $227,200
Baltimore
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 83.4°F
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
76% lower
392.9 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Bridgeport, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $227,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $54,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 80.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Bridgeport School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 44.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 148,470 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 45.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Bridgeport's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 17 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 17 and Bridgeport wins 6. 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 Baltimore to Bridgeport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $227,200 median home), income ($58,349 vs $54,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Bridgeport, CT are about 222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.