Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($202,900 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,526)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $24,589/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%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
75% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $24,589 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$221k less
$202,900 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$24,589
$82,938 vs $58,349/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
75% lower
394.4 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 123⚠ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 9 and Sparks wins 14. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($58,349 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Sparks, NV are about 2,278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.