Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $12,382 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Shreveport
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Shreveport, LA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $290/mo less ($945 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $34k less ($168,900 vs $202,900)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 44°F
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $12,382/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$12,382
$58,349 vs $45,967/yr
Baltimore
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Violent Crime
24% lower
1228.5 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$34k less
$168,900 vs $202,900
Shreveport
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 323⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $168,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Shreveport, LA are about 1,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.