What are the schools like in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown is served primarily by Washington County Public Schools. The district operates 25 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Hagerstown?

The median household income in Hagerstown, MD is $48,481 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.7%.

What is the weather like in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown has an average high temperature of 39.8°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.0 inches.

Hagerstown, MD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hagerstown, MD affordable or expensive?

Hagerstown's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hagerstown is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $192,500 and the median rent is $977 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown has a violent crime rate of 713.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2463.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hagerstown, MD a Good Place to Live?

Hagerstown is a small city of 43,374 in Maryland, with a median household income of $48,481 and a 7.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Hagerstown stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hagerstown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hagerstown city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.1

Hagerstown's overall cost of living index is 95.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hagerstown costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hagerstown, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$192,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$977	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,481	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Hagerstown's violent crime rate is 713.9 per 100,000 residents — 88% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

713.9 /100k

Property Crime

2463.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hagerstown is served primarily by Washington County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hagerstown, MD	National Avg
School District	Washington County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	25	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hagerstown sees average highs of 39.8°F in January and 86.2°F in July, with 43.1 inches of annual precipitation and 33.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hagerstown, MD
Average High — January	39.8°F
Average High — July	86.2°F
Annual Precipitation	43.1"
Annual Snowfall	33.0"

Demographics

Metric	Hagerstown, MD	National Avg
Population	43,374	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	21.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.5%	18.9%
Asian	1.8%	6.3%
Under 18	25.8%	22.2%
65 and over	14.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Funkstown, MD 2 mi Halfway, MD 3 mi Paramount-Long Meadow, MD 3 mi Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD 3 mi Robinwood, MD 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Hagerstown

Hagerstown, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

21740

Hagerstown vs Other Cities

Hagerstown, MD vs Funkstown, MD Hagerstown, MD vs Halfway, MD Hagerstown, MD vs Paramount-Long Meadow, MD Hagerstown, MD vs Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD Hagerstown, MD vs Robinwood, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hagerstown, MD affordable or expensive?

Hagerstown's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hagerstown roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $192,500 and median rent is $977/month.

What is the crime rate in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown's violent crime rate is 713.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2463.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hagerstown?

Public schools in Hagerstown are operated by Washington County Public Schools. The district has 25 elementary, 7 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 19.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hagerstown, MD a good place to live?

Hagerstown, MD has a population of 43,374, a median household income of $48,481, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hagerstown?

Hagerstown averages 39.8°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.1 inches with about 33.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hagerstown?

Hagerstown, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 21740.

What is the population of Hagerstown?

The population of Hagerstown, Maryland is 43,374 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hagerstown?

Key numbers for living in Hagerstown: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $192,500, median household income $48,481, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hagerstown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.