Houston - TX vs Baltimore - MD: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Baltimore - MD is roughly 31% more expensive than Houston - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Houston - TX (45 days vs 16), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Houston vs Baltimore: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,677 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $2,199 in Baltimore, a gap of $521 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $1,937 in Baltimore, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 1.1 times rent in Baltimore, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 17.1 in Baltimore; the lower ratio in Houston means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and +2.2% in Baltimore; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and -0.1% in Baltimore.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 100.1% in Baltimore, after 45 and 16 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: Houston has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Baltimore has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is up 3% on a year ago in Houston 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.