Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 14 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($202,900 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,360)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $14,724/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
67% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $14,724 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$259k less
$202,900 vs $462,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.7 on the COL index
Reno
Median Income
$14,724
$73,073 vs $58,349/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
67% lower
529.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $462,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Reno, NV are about 2,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.