City comparison
No. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Baltimore and Stockton. Baltimore averages 55°F while Stockton averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,331 versus $1,577.
Stockton 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 Stockton 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
Baltimore and Stockton are 2,389 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $246 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $79,907 in Stockton, up $17,730 (29%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 233 in Stockton, down 105 points (31%).
The move
Stockton and Baltimore are 2,389 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $246 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $17,730 (22%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 338 in Baltimore, up 105 points (45%).
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Baltimore and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 16% cheaper than Stockton
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Baltimore is 16% 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 $2,952, 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 Stockton.
Planning to buy in Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Stockton's median income is 29% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Stockton (about $17,730 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, Stockton 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
31% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 31% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Stockton. 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, Stockton 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
39% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Stockton
Winner67°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Stockton averages about 67°F (78°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Stockton sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton scores 39% 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 16% 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 29% higher ($79,907), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Baltimore (233 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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 34/100 in Stockton). That 11-point spread matters more than the $246 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (34/100 in Stockton vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
If safety drives your move, Stockton is the stronger match (34/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Baltimore, treat $1,331/month rent and $62,177 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Stockton?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Stockton when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Stockton, plus other cities in MD and CA.
