Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 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
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($202,900 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,627)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $17,027/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $17,027 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 44°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$215k less
$202,900 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$17,027
$75,376 vs $58,349/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 182,673 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Fort Lauderdale wins 13. 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $417,600 median home), income ($58,349 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.