Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Fresno leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($202,900 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
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
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Median income trails Fresno by $4,652/yr
Fresno, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Baltimore
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 44°F
Households earn $4,652 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$119k less
$202,900 vs $321,800
Baltimore
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Income
$4,652
$63,001 vs $58,349/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
54% lower
735.5 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $63,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 541,528 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 11 and Fresno wins 12. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $321,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Fresno, CA are about 2,334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.