City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Baltimore split most clearly. Boston scores 191 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $1,331 in Baltimore.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Baltimore costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Boston and Baltimore are 359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $816 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $35,167 (36%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 338 in Baltimore, up 191 points (130%).
The move
Baltimore and Boston are 359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $816 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $97,344 in Boston, up $35,167 (57%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 147 in Boston, down 191 points (57%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 38% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $2,147 in Boston, so Baltimore is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $816/month back in your pocket ($9,792/year). Over five years that's $48,960 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 Boston, 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 Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Boston's median income is 57% higher than Baltimore
Boston
Winner$97,344
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Boston (about $35,167 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, Boston 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
57% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 57% lower than Baltimore
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
24% more comfortable
Baltimore weather is 24% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Baltimore
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore scores 24% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 57% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Baltimore (147 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% 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.
Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 24%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 48/100 in Boston). That 25-point spread matters more than the $816 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Boston still pays more locally ($97,344 median income vs $62,177), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boston rates.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
If safety drives your move, Boston is the stronger match (48/100 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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Baltimore, plus other cities in MA and MD.
