Reading receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Reading
Opportunity
57 · Top 47%
vs71 · Top 22%
Growth
71 · Top 18%
vs67 · Top 24%
Climate
69 · Top 41%
vs69 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 37%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs97 · Top 39%
Access
72 · Bottom 43%
vs76 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
70 · Top 25%
vs77 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Hagerstown-Martinsburg | Reading | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 302,649 | 433,015 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,802 | $79,777 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,827 | $39,815 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 300/sq mi | 506/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,100 | $257,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,159 | $1,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 27.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,686 | 929 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.6 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.1% | 228.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.0" | 45.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.9 | 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
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Reading
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.
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
71
Your Score
69
Area Score
Reading
77
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area · Reading, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology