Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $1478k less ($202,900 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1755/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,990)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $116,157/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $116,157 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Baltimore
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$1478k less
$202,900 vs $1,680,700
Baltimore
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$116,157
$174,506 vs $58,349/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
85% lower
244.5 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.