Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $10,040 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
54% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,235)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Homes cost $19k less ($184,200 vs $202,900)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $10,040/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$10,040
$58,349 vs $48,309/yr
Knoxville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
54% lower
740.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$19k less
$184,200 vs $202,900
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $184,200 median home), income ($58,349 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Knoxville, TN are about 463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.