Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($202,900 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $19,721/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 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $19,721 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$310k less
$202,900 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$19,721
$78,070 vs $58,349/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
83% lower
272.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 12 and Ontario wins 11. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $513,000 median home), income ($58,349 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Ontario, CA are about 2,281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.