Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $574k less ($202,900 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,977)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $21,922/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
Westminster, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $21,922 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 44°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$574k less
$202,900 vs $777,100
Baltimore
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$21,922
$80,271 vs $58,349/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
73% lower
436.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($58,349 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Westminster, CA are about 2,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.