Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $9,452 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($155,200 vs $202,900)
Rent averages $268/mo less ($967 vs $1,235)
7% less violent crime than Baltimore
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $9,452/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$9,452
$58,349 vs $48,897/yr
Baltimore
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Violent Crime
7% lower
1497.8 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$48k less
$155,200 vs $202,900
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 309⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 394⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Macon-Bibb County wins 15. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $155,200 median home), income ($58,349 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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