Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood 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
Lakewood
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($202,900 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,665)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $24,437/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 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
51% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $24,437 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$291k less
$202,900 vs $494,100
Baltimore
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$24,437
$82,786 vs $58,349/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
51% lower
787.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 9 and Lakewood 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $494,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Lakewood, CO are about 1,514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.