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Well, in my opinion, Balto was calm because he didn't have much of anyone to talk to besides Boris. I can even relate to why he is the way he is a little bit. I mean, if you think of all the points you put up (which are very good, btw) you could come to a conclusion that although Balto has had a troubled past and not many friends, he could also be shy or afraid to talk to others.

If he were shy or afraid, that would lead to a quiet personality. And if you rarely talk to others, there's no reasons present on flaring up your emotions. Even being sad can have a calming effect. If you think about it, happiness and anger are two of the main emotions that aren't calm. And since he didn't talk to anyone much, he was usually calm.

During the course of the movie, he started talking to Jenna, who was one of the only dogs in town who didn't reject him. This made for another calming effect. Although he was clearly anxious to talk to her and was probably afraid she would turn him down or ignore him just like everyone else (not to mention the fact he liked her), she did just the opposite. Which probably boosted his confidence. If you have no confidence... well, getting some sure gives you reason to be happy.

Or maybe Balto was just calm overall. Some people are calm no matter what. Or through most situations. He could have just grown up being that way.

As for Steele... his case should be somewhat obvious. He was full of himself. He had too much confidence. And because he was so proud of himself he started having too much pride. He thought he was the best and so flaunted himself in front of everyone. He thought he had friends, he thought he had dogs behind his back who would pretty much do whatever he said, he had all the girls falling over him, so... naturally he would get a bit obsessed, overwhelmed, or want to glory in all the popularity.

So he wasn't calm because not only did he have all this going on for him, but because he was reveling in it and embracing it further.

If you think about it, Balto was the opposite. Non popular people usually aren't popular because they have something about them that the majority of people don't like or can't handle. In Balto's case, it was the fact he was half wolf. They all at first thought he was dangerous but when in reality, he wasn't. He was calm, not aggressive. And because they had treated him badly for so long, they probably didn't want to admit the mistake and continued until he proved himself and gave them a chance where they could accept him.

But I dunno... that's just my opinion(s).

Tragic events can humble a person. After realizing all they don't have, they learn to appreciate what they do have.
I believe that's why Balto is the way he is. He also surrounds himself with good 'people' with good values.

When you have everything, it tends to get boring. Maybe Steele wanted more and therefore got greedy.
We also don't know what his family or those he grew up with were like. They may have had personalities that matched his and that's where he got his own.

Cause Balto's cool and Steele isn't!

Balto has a worst life than Steele dose, probably he know Jenna is his true lover and Jenna also knows that too.

Balto thought all the pain he's been through in his life has lrean perservirence and Steele with all his glory expects everything to work his was and if anything is out of balance he freaks! Like he has bypolar disorder

Because Balto has perserverance and persistance. Like wolves themselves, he can weather out the bad influences. Steele is the exact opposite. He's egosentric, conceted, and abrupt because he's so popular and thinks hes 'all perfect'. just the though of lonliness and being an outcast would make him kringe! Balto is steeles threat because balto could prove what steele really is worth in the long run!

Steele was both nervous and jealous.

I think its because balto has someone like boris making sure he stayed calm but steele has friends who egg him on for teasing Balto

Hmm...I thinking it's mostly just general personality differences. Certain people (or dogs, in this case) just naturally have stronger patience and calmness than others.

And, like you mentioned, Balto's been putting up with crap all his life--he's probably pretty used to it and can take a lot before he reaches a real breaking point. Steele, on the other hand, has always been the "popular guy". He's grown up getting what he wants when he wants it, and his ego over time just expanded as he may have began to feel that constant following is what he "deserved". So when something doesn't go his way, rather than moving on with life like Balto, he freaks out and feels that the situation isn't matching up to his standards.

Basically, I agree with what Moki, Roi, and Zuko said.

Balto and Steele were meant to be polar opposites. One represented all that was wrong, yet was the town hero. The other represented all that was good, yet was an outcast. By the end of the film, the hero was the outcast and the outcast was the hero.
Balto's selflessness and his genuine concern for others is what ultimately caused him to be a hero. Balto was also unsure of himself, and humble.
On the other hand, Steele's selfishness and his concern for no one but himself ultimately led him to be an outcast. Steele was also prideful and overconfident. I think Steele could still eventually redeem himself (like in my fanfic, which I am in the process of expanding), but in the movie he was definitely meant to be the villian.

It all comes down to the writer's original intent for the characters, in my opinion.

So are you saying that the writers tried to protray corruption in Nome? What I mean is that Steele, who was arrogant and egotistical, was something of a role model for the other dogs in Nome, whereas Balto, who is caring and sympathetic, is ignored and hated by almost everyone (Jenna excluded) simple because no one took the time to get to know him.

Or do you think the characters were just portayed that way to help develop the main conflict and to introduce Balto as the outcast hero against the maniacal antagoninst?

I think it is more that Steele was a hero because he was the best sled dog in Nome. The other dogs were not keen on the fact that he was a liar and a cheat. Either that or they just looked the other way until it got out of hand. When his treachery was fully revealed, however, the all abandoned him.

Balto, on the otherhand, was an outcast whom no one trusted because he was part work (in real life, wolfdogs can be unpredictable and are heavily regulated in many places). The rest of Nome did not see that he was a true hero until he brought back the medicine and saved the town.

I think it has little to do with the town in general being corrupt. It more or less has to do with a change in perspective.