City comparison

Hagerstown, MD vs Shreveport, LA

What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.

Key findings

Prices in Hagerstown, MD are 11.1% higher than in Shreveport, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Shreveport, LA would need about $111,100 in Hagerstown, MD to live the same way.
Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $961 a month in Hagerstown, MD and $982 in Shreveport, LA.
On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,773 a year higher in Hagerstown, MD than in Shreveport, LA.
For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Hagerstown, MD to Shreveport, LA ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −10.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.9% in real buying power.

HagerstownShreveport

Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108

Hagerstown, MD: price level 94.2 (cheaper)
Shreveport, LA: price level 84.8 (much cheaper)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations^9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels².

Side by side

	Hagerstown, MD	Shreveport, LA
Price level (U.S. = 100)²	94.2	84.8
$100,000 is worth, in the other city²	$90,013 in Shreveport	$111,095 in Hagerstown
Typical 1-bedroom rent³	$961/mo	$982/mo
Take-home on $100,000^14,15,8	$74,794	$76,566
State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)⁸	$4,386 (MD)	$2,614 (LA)
Rent burden on $100,000	15%	15%
Median pay, all jobs⁴	$47,440	$44,820
Federal locality pay area⁷	Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA	Rest of U.S.

Rent areas: Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA. Metro areas: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.

What costs more or less

Hagerstown, MDShreveport, LA

Price level (U.S. = 100)	Hagerstown	Shreveport
Housing (rent)	75.7	52.3
Goods	96.4	93.7
Utilities	95.7	72.6
Other services	99.5	95.7
Overall	94.2	84.8

BEA Regional Price Parities². Housing covers rents.

Moving with the same $100,000 salary

Hagerstown, MD → Shreveport, LA

Same pay goes further

Buying power +11.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,773/yr.

100 Strong offer

Shreveport, LA → Hagerstown, MD

Same pay buys less

Buying power −10.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,773/yr.

38 Weak offer

On the GS pay scale?

Hagerstown, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Shreveport, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hagerstown, MD to Shreveport, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.

Grade^5,2	Hagerstown, MD	Shreveport, LA	Real change, Hagerstown → Shreveport
GS-9 step 1	$70,623	$61,722	−2.9%
GS-11 step 1	$85,447	$74,678	−2.9%
GS-12 step 1	$102,415	$89,508	−2.9%
GS-13 step 1	$121,785	$106,437	−2.9%
GS-14 step 1	$143,913	$125,776	−2.9%

Pay for common jobs

Median annual pay⁴	Hagerstown, MD	Shreveport, LA	Shreveport pay in Hagerstown dollars
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$63,190	$61,850	$68,712 (+8.7%)
Software Developers	$122,830	$96,680	$107,407 (−12.6%)
Accountants and Auditors	$75,250	$70,420	$78,233 (+4.0%)
Registered Nurses	$92,770	$80,080	$88,965 (−4.1%)

"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.

Taxes are estimates for a single filer taking the standard deduction; city and county income taxes are not included. See the methodology.