City Comparison

Baltimore vs Charlottesville: How they compare

Baltimore is a waterfront city with a rich cultural identity, world-class healthcare institutions, and diverse neighborhoods. Charlottesville is a college town centered around the University of Virginia, with a walkable downtown, vibrant arts scene, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia wine country. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Baltimore's median sold price is $275K with homes averaging 41 days on market; Charlottesville is at $535K and 45 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Charlottesville is pricier ($535K median vs $275K), a difference of about $260K. Baltimore moves faster, with homes averaging 41 days on market compared to 45 in Charlottesville. Baltimore offers a lower entry point at $50K–$1.5M.

Baltimore

MD

Charlottesville

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$275K

$535K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

41 days

45 days

Price Range

$50K–$1.5M

$175K–$2M

Notable Neighborhoods

Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Roland Park

Downtown Mall, Belmont, North Downtown, Barracks Road

Schools

Baltimore has a 55% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Baltimore include Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Baltimore City College; in Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School. See Baltimore schools | See Charlottesville schools

Baltimore

MD

Charlottesville

VA

Avg Pass Rate

55%

80%

Public schools

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore City College, Western High School

Charlottesville High School, Buford Middle School, Jackson-Via Elementary

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Charlottesville is closer to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~65 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Baltimore (I-95, I-695, I-83), Charlottesville (I-64, Rt 29, Rt 250).

Baltimore

MD

Charlottesville

VA

Drive to Downtown

~65 min

~10 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-64, Rt 29, Rt 250

Commuter Rail

MARC (Penn Line, Camden Line)

None

Walkability

Baltimore is more walkable with a Walk Score of 65 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 48 in Charlottesville. Transit scores: Baltimore (52) vs Charlottesville (18). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Canton and Downtown Mall score much higher than suburban areas.

Baltimore

MD

Charlottesville

VA

Walk Score

65Somewhat Walkable
48Car-Dependent

Transit Score

52

18

Bike Score

58

58

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Baltimore and Charlottesville. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Baltimore

MD

Charlottesville

VA

Reported Violent Crime

11.2/1K

2.5/1K

Reported Property Crime

28.5/1K

19.8/1K

MD

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Related Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baltimore or Charlottesville more affordable?

Baltimore is more affordable with a median sold price of $275K, compared to $535K in Charlottesville (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. Charlottesville prices range from $175K–$2M.

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

Baltimore public schools have a 55% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Baltimore include Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Baltimore City College; in Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Baltimore or Charlottesville?

Charlottesville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~65 minutes. Baltimore has no direct Metro access. Charlottesville has no direct Metro access.

How do Baltimore and Charlottesville compare?

Baltimore is a waterfront city with a rich cultural identity, world-class healthcare institutions, and diverse neighborhoods. Charlottesville is a college town centered around the University of Virginia, with a walkable downtown, vibrant arts scene, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia wine country. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records 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 September 2026.

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