01 · the cities
Salisbury
Salisbury is the unofficial capital of Maryland's Eastern Shore, home to Perdue Farms' headquarters (yes, the chicken company), and a quick drive to Ocean City beaches. The Wicomico River runs past, the Salisbury Zoo (free) is a sleeper good time, and the surrounding Chesapeake Bay landscape is gorgeous. Slower-paced, water-oriented, and underrated.
full dispatch→Hagerstown
Hagerstown is the Hub City of western Maryland, where rail lines and highways converge in the Cumberland Valley. The downtown has a small but charming historic core. Antietam Battlefield is 30 minutes south, with some of the most affecting Civil War landscape in the country. The Appalachian Trail crosses just to the west. Quiet, with serious history nearby.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,899/mo
$1,587/mo
$312/mo less than Salisbury (20%)
Median home price
Median home price
$420k
$321k
$99k less than Salisbury
State income tax
State income tax
8.2%
8.2%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,751/mo
$6,063/mo
Hagerstown has $312/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
189 days
160 days
29 fewer than Salisbury
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
3 days
6 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
10 days
24 days
days below 20°F per year
Hagerstown drops below 20°F on 14 more days per year than Salisbury.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
53 / 100
56 / 100
3.0 pts ahead of Salisbury
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
2 routes
Metro size
Metro size
130k metro
305k metro
Salisbury has 1.5x fewer events per month than Hagerstown.
the verdict
2
Salisbury
categories won
4
Hagerstown
categories won
Hagerstown wins on money and lifestyle. Salisbury has the edge on weather.
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