City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Baltimore and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 196 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and Raleigh are 267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $241 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $23,218 (37%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 142 in Raleigh, down 196 points (58%).
The move
Raleigh and Baltimore are 267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $241 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $23,218 (27%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 338 in Baltimore, up 196 points (138%).
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Baltimore and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 15% cheaper than Raleigh
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Baltimore is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,892, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Raleigh's median income is 37% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Raleigh (about $23,218 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, Raleigh 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
58% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 58% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
19% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 19% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Raleigh scores 19% 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
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 15% 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.
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 37% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Baltimore (142 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $1,331. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 26 safety points for housing savings.
Baltimore rent at $1,331/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Baltimore's case rests on a Baltimore ZIP you trust at $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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