Boston - MA vs Baltimore - MD: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Boston - MA is roughly 83% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Baltimore - MD sees more listings with price cuts (30.2% vs 23.7%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Boston vs Baltimore: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $4,019 a month in principal and interest in Boston and $2,199 in Baltimore, a gap of $1,821 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,987 in Boston and $1,937 in Baltimore, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.3 times rent in Boston and 1.1 times rent in Baltimore, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 20.2 years of rent in Boston and 17.1 in Baltimore; the lower ratio in Baltimore means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +3.0% in Boston and +2.2% in Baltimore; over just the last three months the change was +0.6% in Boston and -0.1% in Baltimore.

Homes sell for 101.3% of list price in Boston and 100.1% in Baltimore, after 14 and 16 days on the market, with price cuts on 24% and 30% 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 14% on a year ago in Boston and up 11% on a year ago in Baltimore.

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.