Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $501k less ($202,900 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1167/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,402)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $53,795/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,795 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$501k less
$202,900 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$53,795
$112,144 vs $58,349/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
92% lower
129.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 44 ✓ 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 | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Simi Valley wins 16. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $704,200 median home), income ($58,349 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.