Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) vs Baltimore: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY and Baltimore, MD, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricLouisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KYBaltimore, MD
Population629,176584,548
Median household income$63,114$58,349
Median home value$204,800$202,900
Median rent (/mo)$1,014$1,235

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY and Baltimore, MD comes down to what you value most. Baltimore has the lower median home value, and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) has the lower median rent.

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) or Baltimore?
By median home value, Baltimore is the cheaper of the two ($202,900 vs $204,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) or Baltimore?
Median household income is $63,114 in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) versus $58,349 in Baltimore, per the US Census Bureau.

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