Cost of Living in Hagerstown, MD
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hagerstown, MD to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hagerstown, MD?
With a price level of 94.2 (U.S. average = 100), Hagerstown, MD is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 24% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 4% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Hagerstown, MD vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.2 | −5.8% |
| Housing | 75.7 | −24.3% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hagerstown, MD
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $849 | $33,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $952 | $38,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,232 | $49,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,673 | $66,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,903 | $76,120/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hagerstown, MD
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Hagerstown, MD | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,700 | $31,045 |
| $60,000 | $56,500 | $45,258 |
| $80,000 | $75,300 | $58,590 |
| $100,000 | $94,200 | $70,989 |
| $150,000 | $141,300 | $101,385 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Maryland 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Hagerstown, MD's median wage of $47,440 takes home about $3,201 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $952, which is 30% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,249 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hagerstown, MD
- Federal income tax$3,513
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- Maryland income tax$1,890
- Take-home pay$38,408
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Hagerstown, MD
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $92,420 | $69,821 | $74,143 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $56,310 | $45,114 | $47,906 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,100 | $31,347 | $33,288 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,190 | $30,659 | $32,557 |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,490 | $26,350 | $27,981 |
| Cashier | $31,200 | $26,131 | $27,748 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Maryland cities
Half of Maryland’s 2,763,030 workers earn less than $59,510 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $39,440–$98,010 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Washington, DC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hagerstown, MD is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $71,060 | 108.9 | $1,990 | 43% | $2,661 | $51,255 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 42% | $2,113 | $42,516 |
| Baltimore, MD | $59,070 | 104.5 | $1,511 | 38% | $2,422 | $45,174 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $47,440 | 94.2 | $952 | 30% | $2,249 | $40,786 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $63,990 | 100.8 | $1,753 | 41% | $2,490 | $50,536 |
| Salisbury, MD | $48,710 | 95.6 | $1,031 | 31% | $2,250 | $41,173 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Hagerstown, MD vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown, MD | 94.2 | $952 | $47,440 | 107,170 |
| Columbia, MO | 89.4 | $978 | $47,260 | 107,680 |
| Bend, OR | 103.6 | $1,297 | $54,570 | 108,240 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 87.7 | $943 | $45,220 | 108,460 |
| Champaign, IL | 92.7 | $932 | $50,700 | 105,500 |
| Laredo, TX | 87.0 | $962 | $37,250 | 109,370 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 87.6 | $919 | $50,840 | 103,920 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hagerstown, MD expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area are 94.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 75.7%. It is the #179 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hagerstown, MD?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,503 in Hagerstown, MD (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,440.
Can you afford Hagerstown, MD on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,440 median wage takes home about $3,201 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $952 would take 30% of that.
How much is rent in Hagerstown, MD?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hagerstown, MD are $849 for a studio, $952 for one bedroom, $1,232 for two bedrooms and $1,673 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Hagerstown, MD
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $92,420
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $31,490
- Cashier — $31,200
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,310
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,100
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,190