Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Centennial, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($202,900 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,949)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $66,268/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 3.4%)
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $66,268 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$384k less
$202,900 vs $586,500
Centennial
Median Income
$66,268
$124,617 vs $58,349/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
89% lower
172.8 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Centennial, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $586,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,949⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $124,617 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 15.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 107,702 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Centennial's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Centennial wins 16. 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 Centennial or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $586,500 median home), income ($58,349 vs $124,617), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Centennial, CO are about 1,502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.