Sherman-Denison 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
Sherman-Denison
Opportunity
57 · Top 47%
vs57 · Top 46%
Growth
71 · Top 18%
vs76 · Top 10%
Climate
69 · Top 41%
vs71 · Top 33%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 37%
vs75 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs86 · Bottom 29%
Access
72 · Bottom 43%
vs73 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
70 · Top 25%
vs66 · Top 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Hagerstown-Martinsburg | Sherman-Denison | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 302,649 | 143,337 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,802 | $72,182 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,827 | $38,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 300/sq mi | 154/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,100 | $248,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,159 | $1,310 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 66.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | 0.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 23.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,686 | 1,466 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.6 | 10.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.1% | -35.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.0" | 44.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 51 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 27.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.0 | 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.
Sherman-Denison
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
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
Sherman-Denison
72
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area · Sherman-Denison, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology