Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 14 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($202,900 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,392)
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $12,979/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
30% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $12,979 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$149k less
$202,900 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$12,979
$71,328 vs $58,349/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Violent Crime
30% lower
1124.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 296⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 14 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Nashville-Davidson 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $351,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.