Baltimore-Columbia-Towson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Opportunity
74 · Top 18%
vs69 · Top 25%
Growth
38 · Bottom 31%
vs58 · Top 38%
Climate
71 · Top 33%
vs63 · Bottom 40%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 2%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 28%
vs67 · Bottom 10%
Access
98 · Top 8%
vs98 · Top 4%
Economic stability
87 · Top 6%
vs93 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | Boston-Cambridge-Newton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,849,436 | 4,953,354 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $99,470 | $115,863 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,391 | $63,282 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,095/sq mi | 1,421/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $391,300 | $646,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,611 | $2,023 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.9% | 61.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 51.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 8.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,304 | 11,731 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.9% | 21.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 32.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
78
Your Score
76
Area Score
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
76
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology