Fresno vs Baltimore: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fresno, CA and Baltimore, MD, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 541,528 | 584,548 |
| Median household income | $63,001 | $58,349 |
| Median home value | $321,800 | $202,900 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,227 | $1,235 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fresno, CA and Baltimore, MD comes down to what you value most. Baltimore has the lower median home value, and Fresno has the lower median rent.
Fresno has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Baltimore?
- By median home value, Baltimore is the cheaper of the two ($202,900 vs $321,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fresno or Baltimore?
- Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $58,349 in Baltimore, per the US Census Bureau.