Hagerstown-Martinsburg receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Dover
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 8%
vs57 · Top 47%
Growth
68 · Top 23%
vs71 · Top 18%
Climate
76 · Top 16%
vs69 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 22%
vs65 · Top 37%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 19%
vs94 · Bottom 48%
Access
68 · Bottom 35%
vs72 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs70 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Dover | Hagerstown-Martinsburg | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 187,604 | 302,649 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,477 | $78,802 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,191 | $38,827 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 320/sq mi | 300/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $316,600 | $278,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,354 | $1,159 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 71.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.5% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 24.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,360 | 1,686 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 5.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 9.8% | 2.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.6" | 39.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 55 mi | 50 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 31.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Dover
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Dover
67
Your Score
63
Area Score
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
71
Your Score
69
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Dover, DE Metro Area · Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology