Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 16 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $22k less ($202,900 vs $224,900)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
84% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,235)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$22k less
$202,900 vs $224,900
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$4,500
$62,849 vs $58,349/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
84% lower
260.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 16 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Norman wins 16. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $224,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Norman, OK are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.