Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Daly City leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $870k less ($202,900 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1319/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,554)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $56,561/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 5.4%)
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,561 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Baltimore
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
$870k less
$202,900 vs $1,073,100
Baltimore
Summer Heat
28.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$56,561
$114,910 vs $58,349/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
82% lower
296.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Daly City
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Daly City, 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 | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 20.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Daly City leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 9 and Daly City wins 14. 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 Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Daly City, CA are about 2,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.