City comparison
Hagerstown, MD vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Hagerstown, MD are 1.4% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $101,400 in Hagerstown, MD to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $961 in Hagerstown, MD. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 15% in Hagerstown, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,004 a year higher in Hagerstown, MD than in Lexington, KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Hagerstown, MD to Lexington, KY ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −11.4% in real buying power.
- Hagerstown, MD: price level 94.2 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Hagerstown, MD | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.2 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,639 in Lexington | $101,380 in Hagerstown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $961/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,440 | $48,620 |
| 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hagerstown | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.7 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 95.7 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 94.2 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hagerstown, MD → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,004/yr.
73 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Hagerstown, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,004/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hagerstown, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hagerstown, MD to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hagerstown, MD | Lexington, KY | Real change, Hagerstown → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −11.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −11.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −11.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −11.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −11.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hagerstown, MD | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Hagerstown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,190 | $61,460 | $62,308 (−1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,830 | $123,510 | $125,215 (+1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $77,780 | $78,853 (+4.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,770 | $79,040 | $80,131 (−13.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.