Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $14,193 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 33°F
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
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($111,400 vs $202,900)
64% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $240/mo less ($995 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $14,193/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$14,193
$58,349 vs $44,156/yr
Baltimore
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
64% lower
582.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$92k less
$111,400 vs $202,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 12 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Rochester, NY are about 272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.