Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($202,900 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,400)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $32,099/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 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $32,099 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$78k less
$202,900 vs $280,700
Midland
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$32,099
$90,448 vs $58,349/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
77% lower
364.9 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $280,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Midland, TX are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.