Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Baltimore leads 12 of 22 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
Richmond
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($202,900 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,853)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $28,269/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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,269 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Baltimore
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$422k less
$202,900 vs $624,800
Baltimore
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$28,269
$86,618 vs $58,349/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
43% lower
923.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 12 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 12 and Richmond wins 10. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $624,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Richmond, CA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.