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
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Winchester
Opportunity
57 · Top 47%
vs53 · Bottom 46%
Growth
71 · Top 18%
vs61 · Top 32%
Climate
69 · Top 41%
vs69 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 37%
vs65 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs83 · Bottom 24%
Access
72 · Bottom 43%
vs66 · Bottom 31%
Economic stability
70 · Top 25%
vs69 · Top 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Hagerstown-Martinsburg | Winchester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 302,649 | 146,386 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,802 | $84,298 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,827 | $43,467 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 300/sq mi | 138/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,100 | $355,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,159 | $1,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 72.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 29.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,686 | 914 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.6 | 6.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.1% | -2.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.0" | 39.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 59 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 32.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 41.2 | 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
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Winchester
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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
Winchester
67
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area · Winchester, VA-WV Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology