City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Hagerstown, MD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 6.2% higher than in Hagerstown, MD. Someone earning $100,000 in Hagerstown, MD would need about $106,200 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $961 in Hagerstown, MD. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 15% in Hagerstown, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,316 a year higher in Hagerstown, MD than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Hagerstown, MD ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.1% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- 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
| Allentown, PA | Hagerstown, MD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 94.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,201 in Hagerstown | $106,156 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $961/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,794 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,386 (MD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $47,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Hagerstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 75.7 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 95.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 94.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Hagerstown, MD
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,316/yr.
88 Strong offer
Hagerstown, MD → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,316/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Hagerstown, MD is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Hagerstown, MD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Hagerstown, MD | Real change, Allentown → Hagerstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Hagerstown, MD | Hagerstown pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $63,190 | $67,080 (−15.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $122,830 | $130,391 (+6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $75,250 | $79,882 (+1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $92,770 | $98,481 (−2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.