City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Baltimore split most clearly. Austin scores 176 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,331 in Baltimore.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Baltimore at $1,331 average has pockets that run $1,131 and others at $1,731: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Baltimore are 1,347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $398 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $31,481 (34%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 338 in Baltimore, up 176 points (109%).
The move
Baltimore and Austin are 1,347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $398 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $93,658 in Austin, up $31,481 (51%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 162 in Austin, down 176 points (52%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 23% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,729 in Austin, so Baltimore is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $398/month back in your pocket ($4,776/year). Over five years that's $23,880 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Baltimore is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Austin's median income is 51% higher than Baltimore
Austin
Winner$93,658
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Austin (about $31,481 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 52% lower than Baltimore
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Austin weather is 16% more comfortable than Baltimore
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
60°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 86/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Baltimore averages about 60°F (67°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 60°F. Austin scores 16% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 51% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Baltimore (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Austin scores 45/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore. Rent is $1,729/month in Austin and $1,331/month in Baltimore, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Baltimore rent at $1,331/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,729 in Austin.
Between Austin and Baltimore, Austin is ahead on safety — 45/100 safety versus 23/100. Lean Baltimore instead when you already know the Baltimore block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Baltimore, plus other cities in TX and MD.
