City comparison
Akron, OH vs Hagerstown, MD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Akron, OH (93.4) and Hagerstown, MD (94.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Akron, OH goes as far as $100,900 in Hagerstown, MD.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $985 a month in Akron, OH and $961 in Hagerstown, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,419 a year higher in Hagerstown, MD than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.6% moving from Akron, OH to Hagerstown, MD ($111,138 → $121,785), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.6% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Hagerstown, MD: price level 94.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Hagerstown, MD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 94.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,858 in Hagerstown | $99,149 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $961/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,794 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,386 (MD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $47,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Hagerstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 75.7 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 95.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 94.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Hagerstown, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$2,419/yr.
66 Fair offer
Hagerstown, MD → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,419/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Hagerstown, MD is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Hagerstown, MD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Hagerstown, MD | Real change, Akron → Hagerstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $70,623 | +8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $85,447 | +8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $102,415 | +8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $121,785 | +8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $143,913 | +8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Hagerstown, MD | Hagerstown pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $63,190 | $62,653 (−20.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $122,830 | $121,785 (+15.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,250 | $74,610 (−5.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $92,770 | $91,981 (+13.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.