Seattle - WA vs Baltimore - MD: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 81% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 16), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 30.2%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Seattle vs Baltimore: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,989 a month in principal and interest in Seattle and $2,199 in Baltimore, a gap of $1,790 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,250 in Seattle and $1,937 in Baltimore, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.8 times rent in Seattle and 1.1 times rent in Baltimore, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.7 years of rent in Seattle 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 -2.9% in Seattle and +2.2% in Baltimore; over just the last three months the change was -0.3% in Seattle and -0.1% in Baltimore.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in Seattle and 100.1% in Baltimore, after 27 and 16 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 30% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Seattle.

The number of homes for sale is up 20% on a year ago in Seattle 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.