City Comparison

Baltimore vs Centreville: How they compare

Baltimore is a waterfront city with a rich cultural identity, world-class healthcare institutions, and diverse neighborhoods. Centreville offers spacious homes and residential neighborhoods at accessible price points. Both are strong options, but the details matter. Here is how they compare across price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and safety.

Market Overview

Baltimore's median sold price is $275K with homes averaging 41 days on market; Centreville is at $579K and 26 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Centreville is pricier ($579K median vs $275K), a difference of about $304K. Centreville moves faster, with homes averaging 26 days on market compared to 41 in Baltimore. Baltimore offers a lower entry point at $50K–$1.5M.

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$275K

$579K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

41 days

26 days

Price Range

$50K–$1.5M

$245K–$3.1M

Notable Neighborhoods

Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Roland Park

Centre Ridge, Sully Station, Virginia Run, Little Rocky Run

Schools

Baltimore has a 55% average SOL pass rate; Centreville has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Baltimore include Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Baltimore City College; in Centreville, Centreville High School and Westfield High School. See Baltimore schools | See Centreville schools

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Avg Pass Rate

55%

84%

Public schools

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore City College, Western High School

Centreville High School, Westfield High School, Liberty Middle School

Pass Rate

55%
84%

Commute

Centreville is closer to downtown at ~40 minutes vs ~65 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Baltimore (I-95, I-695, I-83), Centreville (I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29).

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Drive to Downtown

~65 min

~40 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-95, I-695, I-83, I-295, Rt 1

I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29

Commuter Rail

MARC (Penn Line, Camden Line)

None

Property Tax

On a $275K home in Baltimore, you would pay ~$6,182/yr in property tax. In Centreville, a $579K home costs ~$6,427/yr. Centreville has the lower rate at $1.110 per $100 of assessed value.

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Rate per $100

$2.248

$1.110

Est. Annual Tax

Based on median home price

$6,182/yr

$6,427/yr

Notes

Baltimore City rate (highest in Maryland)

Fairfax County rate

Walkability

Baltimore is more walkable with a Walk Score of 65 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 25 in Centreville. Transit scores: Baltimore (52) vs Centreville (15). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Canton and Centre Ridge score much higher than suburban areas.

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Walk Score

65Somewhat Walkable
25Car-Dependent

Transit Score

52

15

Bike Score

58

28

Safety

Centreville is rated "Very Safe" with a total crime rate 42% below Virginia average. Baltimore is rated "Below Average" (135% above Virginia average). Both cities compare favorably to broader regional trends. Crime rates vary by neighborhood, so check specific areas when house hunting.

Baltimore

MD

Centreville

VA

Safety Rating

Below Average
Very Safe

Violent Crime

11.2/1K

0.7/1K

Property Crime

28.5/1K

9.1/1K

vs Virginia Avg

135% above Virginia average

42% below Virginia average

MD

Find agents in Baltimore

Browse verified agents with real sales data in Baltimore.

View agents

VA

Find agents in Centreville

Browse verified agents with real sales data in Centreville.

View agents

Decided between Baltimore and Centreville? See how buying a home works on smover.

Related Comparisons

See how other nearby cities stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baltimore or Centreville more affordable?

Baltimore is more affordable with a median sold price of $275K, compared to $579K in Centreville (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Baltimore prices range from $50K–$1.5M. Centreville prices range from $245K–$3.1M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Baltimore and Centreville?

Baltimore public schools have a 55% average SOL pass rate; Centreville has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Baltimore include Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Baltimore City College; in Centreville, Centreville High School and Westfield High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Baltimore or Centreville?

Centreville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~40 minutes vs ~65 minutes. Baltimore has no direct Metro access. Centreville has no direct Metro access.

What are property taxes in Baltimore vs Centreville?

Baltimore has a property tax rate of $2.248 per $100 (~$6,182/yr on a $275K home). Centreville's rate is $1.110 per $100 (~$6,427/yr on a $579K home). Tax rates are set annually by each locality.

How do Baltimore and Centreville compare?

Baltimore is a waterfront city with a rich cultural identity, world-class healthcare institutions, and diverse neighborhoods. Centreville offers spacious homes and residential neighborhoods at accessible price points. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover can connect you with a verified agent in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated August 2026.

Stay ahead of the market

Join buyers, sellers, and agents across Northern Virginia getting weekly market updates, new listings, and tips. Free, every Monday.

Trusted in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and 19 more cities

Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Take ownership of your move.

For buyers under contract: your agent confirms the milestones. smover keeps selected documents, confirmed dates, and factual updates in one shared view.

Baltimore vs Centreville: $275K vs $579K (2026) | smover