Hagerstown-Martinsburg cost of living
Prices in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area run at 94.2 against a national average of 100, ranking it #179 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 75.7.
What drives the number
Prices in Hagerstown-Martinsburg run at 94.2 where the national average is 100, so about 5.8 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #179 of 387 metro areas. Against Maryland as a whole it is 10.8 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 75.7 against goods at 96.4 and other services at 95.7, so the overall figure of 94.2 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 94.2 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Hagerstown-Martinsburg is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,470 | $38,110 | $40,456 | $37,090 |
| Retail Salespersons | 3,300 | $31,200 | $33,121 | $34,580 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,980 | $39,000 | $41,401 | $38,940 |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,960 | $86,090 | $91,391 | $102,950 |
| Cashiers | 2,670 | $31,200 | $33,121 | $31,190 |
| Registered Nurses | 2,180 | $91,370 | $96,996 | $93,600 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,100 | $31,200 | $33,121 | $34,900 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,940 | $51,290 | $54,448 | $57,440 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 94.2.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 108.9 | 151.1 | #15 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | 104.5 | 118.2 | #33 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 102.6 | 113.1 | #50 |
| Lexington Park | 100.8 | 103.8 | #74 |
| Winchester | 96.5 | 90.0 | #139 |
| Salisbury | 95.6 | 87.2 | #154 |
Hagerstown-Martinsburg: common questions
Is Hagerstown-Martinsburg expensive?
Prices are 5.8% below the national average, a parity of 94.2 where the country is 100. It ranks #179 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Maryland as a whole it is 10.8 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Hagerstown-Martinsburg?
The median worker there earns $45,920, which buys what $48,747 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 75.7 against goods at 96.4. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.