Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Baltimore lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Baltimore sits.
Pro sports in Baltimore
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Baltimore hosts 2 major-league teams across 2 leagues.
- MLB Baltimore Orioles
- NFL Baltimore Ravens
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Baltimore fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Baltimore's strongest factors are Star Power, Transit Quality and Walkability. Its heaviest drawbacks are Economic Strain, Crime and Traffic.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Baltimore
The Baltimore read Free
A written read on Baltimore, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Baltimore scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Baltimore: A Very Fun City with Star Power
Baltimore, MD earns a Fun Score of 77, placing it in the "Very Fun" category and tied for #22 nationally out of 134 cities, thanks in large part to its exceptional Star Power.
Why it scores high
Baltimore shines with its impressive Star Power, scoring 90 and ranking tied for #8 nationally. This indicates a city that attracts and produces notable individuals and events, offering a vibrant scene for those who appreciate celebrity and significant cultural happenings. Beyond the glitz, getting around Baltimore is remarkably easy, with its Transit Quality scoring 88 and ranking tied for #13 nationally. This means residents and visitors can expect efficient and reliable public transportation, making exploration and daily commutes a breeze. The city also boasts excellent Walkability, with a score of 85 and a national rank of #20. This high score suggests that many areas of Baltimore are pedestrian-friendly, encouraging residents to navigate on foot and enjoy the urban environment.
The city's strong showing in these areas paints a picture of a dynamic urban center where access and engagement are key. Whether you're attending a major event or simply enjoying a stroll through the city, Baltimore's infrastructure and cultural draw contribute significantly to its overall appeal.
Where it falls short
While Baltimore offers many attractions, it faces challenges in certain areas. Economic Strain is a significant concern, scoring a low 10 and ranking tied for #125 nationally. This suggests residents may experience difficulties related to unemployment, housing costs, and poverty, impacting the overall quality of life for many. The city also struggles with a high Crime rate, scoring 13 and ranking tied for #118 nationally. This indicates a less safe environment compared to many other cities, which can affect residents' sense of security and freedom to enjoy public spaces.
Additionally, Baltimore's offerings for Unique Hangouts are limited, with a score of 11 and ranking tied for #119 nationally. This suggests fewer options for specialized entertainment venues like escape rooms, arcades, or karaoke, which might be a drawback for those seeking more niche recreational activities. These factors highlight areas where Baltimore could improve to enhance the well-being and recreational opportunities for its community.
Who it's for
Baltimore is an ideal city for individuals who appreciate a vibrant urban environment with strong cultural ties and excellent public transit. It's particularly suited for those who enjoy attending major events and value walkability, even if they are prepared to navigate some economic and safety challenges.
Cities like it
- Washington, DC has a similar vibrant cultural scene and strong transit options.
- Cleveland, OH shares a comparable industrial heritage and a focus on urban revitalization.
- Atlanta, GA offers a similar blend of historical significance and modern urban development.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Baltimore’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Baltimore, MD: 76/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/baltimore-md
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.