Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($202,900 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $13,673/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
71% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $13,673 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$179k less
$202,900 vs $382,100
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$13,673
$72,022 vs $58,349/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
71% lower
470.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Tempe, AZ are about 1,995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.