Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($202,900 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,525)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $15,277/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $15,277 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$201k less
$202,900 vs $403,400
Baltimore
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$15,277
$73,626 vs $58,349/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
64% lower
582.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Vancouver, WA are about 2,351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.