Baltimore - MD vs Sacramento - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Sacramento - CA is roughly 44% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Sacramento - CA (22 days vs 16), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Baltimore vs Sacramento: 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 $3,173 in Sacramento, a gap of $974 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,937 in Baltimore and $2,269 in Sacramento, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Baltimore and 1.4 times rent in Sacramento, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 17.1 years of rent in Baltimore and 21.0 in Sacramento; 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 -2.3% in Sacramento; over just the last three months the change was -0.1% in Baltimore and +0.3% in Sacramento.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Baltimore and 99.6% in Sacramento, after 16 and 22 days on the market, with price cuts on 30% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: Baltimore has more price cuts, while Sacramento has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 11% on a year ago in Baltimore and down 4% on a year ago in Sacramento.

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.