Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Riverside, 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
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($202,900 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $476/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,711)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $25,099/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 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $25,099 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$283k less
$202,900 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$25,099
$83,448 vs $58,349/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
63% lower
589.7 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Riverside'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 Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $485,500 median home), income ($58,349 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Riverside, CA are about 2,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.