Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Concord
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $504k less ($202,900 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $902/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,137)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $49,440/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 4.9%)
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,440 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$504k less
$202,900 vs $706,700
Concord
Median Income
$49,440
$107,789 vs $58,349/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
70% lower
484.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 125,007 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Concord wins 15. 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 Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $706,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Concord, CA are about 2,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.