Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Baltimore leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($202,900 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,605)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
El Monte, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Baltimore
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$394k less
$202,900 vs $597,200
Baltimore
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 85.5°F
El Monte
Median Income
$1,580
$59,929 vs $58,349/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
74% lower
423.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 13 and El Monte wins 10. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $597,200 median home), income ($58,349 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and El Monte, CA are about 2,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.