Baltimore - MD vs San Jose - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

San Jose - CA is roughly 284% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Baltimore - MD sees more listings with price cuts (30.2% vs 22.5%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Baltimore vs San Jose: 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 $8,439 in San Jose, a gap of $6,241 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,937 in Baltimore and $3,812 in San Jose, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Baltimore and 2.2 times rent in San Jose, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 17.1 years of rent in Baltimore and 33.3 in San Jose; 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 -2.5% in San Jose; over just the last three months the change was -0.1% in Baltimore and +0.5% in San Jose.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Baltimore and 102.1% in San Jose, after 16 and 17 days on the market, with price cuts on 30% and 22% of listings. The signs are mixed: Baltimore has more price cuts and sales further below list, while San Jose has longer time on the market.

The number of homes for sale is up 11% on a year ago in Baltimore and up 7% on a year ago in San Jose.

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.