Salary expectations: how do you answer? after 11 years as a graphic designer

A recruiter asked for my salary expectations on a first call as I look for work as a graphic designer. It has been weighing on me all week. I looked up ranges in Baltimore and they vary a lot. How do you research fairly?

Check several sources for pay in Baltimore, then pick a range where the low end is one you can live with.

I gave a range based on local postings and said I was flexible depending on the whole package. They did not push back.