City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Baltimore split most clearly. Dallas scores 150 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,331 in Baltimore.
Dallas 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 Dallas is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Dallas has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Baltimore are 1,211 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $141 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $8,341 (12%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 338 in Baltimore, up 150 points (80%).
The move
Baltimore and Dallas are 1,211 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $141 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $70,518 in Dallas, up $8,341 (13%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 188 in Dallas, down 150 points (44%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 10% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Baltimore is 10% 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 $1,692, 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 Dallas.
Planning to buy in Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Dallas's median income is 13% higher than Baltimore
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Dallas (about $8,341 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, Dallas 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
44% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 44% lower than Baltimore
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas 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
Dallas weather is 16% more comfortable than Baltimore
Dallas
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
60°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 86/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Baltimore averages about 60°F (67°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 60°F. Dallas 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 13% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Baltimore (188 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 10% 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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 41/100 in Dallas). That 18-point spread matters more than the $141 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (41/100 in Dallas vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
Dallas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Baltimore deserves a serious look only when you already know the Baltimore block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Baltimore, plus other cities in TX and MD.
