Hagerstown vs Salisbury
Compare Hagerstown, MD and Salisbury, MD on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,076/mo in Hagerstown and $1,154/mo in Salisbury, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,225/mo and $1,311/mo. Across the four public-data screens Hagerstown comes out ahead (225 vs 210 summed points), though Salisbury still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 83°F and 89°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Hagerstown screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (86 vs 64/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Hagerstown; if walkable daily life matters more, Salisbury screens stronger on the walkability proxy (18 vs 12). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Hagerstown leads 77 to 66 on the cost and climate screen.
Salisbury leads 73 to 68 on the work screen.
Hagerstown leads 42 to 24 on the daily life screen.
Salisbury leads 47 to 38 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Hagerstown is roughly $60,714 in Salisbury using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Hagerstown | Salisbury | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,076/mo | $1,154/mo | Hagerstown |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,225/mo | $1,311/mo | Hagerstown |
| Median home value | $242,000 | $289,000 | Hagerstown |
| State income tax | 6.5% | 6.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 27.1 min | Salisbury |
| Safety score | 51/100 | 51/100 | Tie |
| School score | 3/10 | 4/10 | Salisbury |
| Walkability estimate | 12/100 | 18/100 | Salisbury |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Hagerstown |
| Restaurants per 100k | 150.1 | 46.9 | Hagerstown |
| Mountain distance | 28 mi | 110 mi | Hagerstown |
| Coast distance | 58 mi | 14 mi | Salisbury |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 86/100 | 64/100 | Hagerstown |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 0th | 100th | Hagerstown |
| Wildfire risk percentile (NRI) | 30th | 78th | Hagerstown |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 43th | 1th | Salisbury |
What stands out
Hagerstown stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 3 miles
- Ski location within 22 miles
- Coast access within 58 miles
- Mountain access within 28 miles
Hagerstown tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Salisbury stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 104 miles
- Named beach within 14 miles
- Coast access within 14 miles
Salisbury tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Hagerstown cheaper than Salisbury?
On public benchmarks Hagerstown is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,076/mo in Hagerstown vs $1,154/mo in Salisbury; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,225/mo vs $1,311/mo; state income tax is 6.5% vs 6.5%.
Is Hagerstown or Salisbury safer?
Hagerstown screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 51/100 for Hagerstown and 51/100 for Salisbury (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Hagerstown or Salisbury?
School screens show 3/10 for Hagerstown vs 4/10 for Salisbury, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Hagerstown and Salisbury?
Hagerstown: summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 22°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Salisbury: 89°F / 27°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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