Baltimore County vs Montgomery County
Baltimore County, Maryland versus Montgomery County, Maryland: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Montgomery County edges out Baltimore County on overall objective livability (42 vs 37 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Baltimore County | Montgomery County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $88k | $126k |
| Cost of Living | $56k | $72k |
| Home Value | $311k | $589k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.15% | 0.87% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 8.84% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.02% | 14.92% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 35°F | 35°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7 in | 46.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.8 in | 22.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 180 days | 177 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 77 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 94.0 | 91.7 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 66.2 | 77.4 |
| Violent Crime | 2006/100k | 606/100k |
| Property Crime | 1982/100k | 1477/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 850,737 | 1,056,910 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 39.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.59 | 0.71 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+28 | D+61 |
| White (%) | 54.1% | 41.4% |
| Black (%) | 29.6% | 18.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.1% | 20.0% |
| Asian (%) | 6.1% | 15.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 33 min |
| Walkability | 10.7/20 | 12.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 19 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.7% | 94.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.83 | 4.84 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Baltimore County or Montgomery County more affordable?
- Baltimore County has the lower cost of living: its index is $56k, compared with Baltimore County's $56k and Montgomery County's $72k. Median rent is $1k in Baltimore County versus $2k in Montgomery County.
- Is Baltimore County or Montgomery County safer?
- Montgomery County has the lower violent crime rate. Baltimore County reports 2006/100k and Montgomery County reports 606/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Baltimore County or Montgomery County?
- The median home value is $311k in Baltimore County and $589k in Montgomery County, so homes are more affordable in Baltimore County.