Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Richmond
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($202,900 vs $308,300)
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
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Richmond, VA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Baltimore
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$105k less
$202,900 vs $308,300
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Income
$1,257
$59,606 vs $58,349/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
79% lower
336.9 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Richmond wins 15. 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 $308,300 median home), income ($58,349 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Richmond, VA are about 131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.