Baltimore - MD vs Providence - RI: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Providence - RI is roughly 32% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Baltimore - MD sees more listings with price cuts (30.2% vs 24.6%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Baltimore vs Providence: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,199 a month in principal and interest in Baltimore and $2,893 in Providence, a gap of $694 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,937 in Baltimore and $2,166 in Providence, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Baltimore and 1.3 times rent in Providence, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 17.1 years of rent in Baltimore and 20.1 in Providence; the lower ratio in Baltimore means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +2.2% in Baltimore and +5.8% in Providence; over just the last three months the change was -0.1% in Baltimore and +1.0% in Providence.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Baltimore and 101.1% in Providence, after 16 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 30% and 25% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Baltimore.

The number of homes for sale is up 11% on a year ago in Baltimore and up 9% on a year ago in Providence.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.