Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($202,900 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 38°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $39,530/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 5.9%)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
95% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $39,530 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$289k less
$202,900 vs $491,800
Baltimore
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$39,530
$97,879 vs $58,349/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
95% lower
85.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $491,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Norwalk, CT are about 209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.