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Maryland city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Baltimore?

What it costs to live in Baltimore, and how it compares with other Maryland cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

36

72nd best value in Maryland

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Maryland cities.

Overall livability

32

77th overall in Maryland

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Baltimore is home to about 592,211 people. A typical home runs $175,300 and a household earns around $54,100, a price-to-income ratio of 3.2. Among Maryland's largest cities, it ranks 72nd for value and 77th overall.

Baltimore at a glance

Median home price

$175,300

30th in MD of 94

Median rent

$1,146/mo

Median household income

$54,100

Home price to income

3.2x

Unemployment

7.4%

80th in MD of 94

School rating

4/10

88th in MD of 94

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MD of 94

Walk score

74/100

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‹ See all top Maryland cities ranked  ยท  Maryland state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Maryland only. Updated 2026.