Photo of Hagerstown, MD
( 20 Ratings )

Living in Hagerstown, MD

Hagerstown Area Facts

  • Hagerstown has a Livability Score of 77/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Hagerstown crime rates are 12% higher than the Maryland average
  • Cost of living in Hagerstown is 15% lower than the Maryland average
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Hagerstown Reviews

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My honest opinion as a long time local 3 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 31, 2023) I've lived in this area for over 15 years at this point, most of my life, and it's certainly not the worst place in the world. Hagerstown is a pretty average Mid-Atlantic small city, and the layout/architecture of the city very much resembles Baltimore. This area is populated eno ...Read More ugh to have all the amenities/resources of a larger city, while also being rural enough to have many good places to go out and explore nature. Washington County is also well-known for its civil war history, with the Antietam battlefield being located only about 10 minutes outside of town. If you're a US history nerd, this is definitely a good place for you. Here is my list of the pros and cons of this city

Pros:
-Lots of places to go shopping, tons of places to eat, not just including fast food, and a lot of strip mall areas where you can easily find whatever you need
-Geographic location: Hagerstown is located right where I-70 and I-81 intersect, so you can easily travel any direction quickly from here.
-Low cost of living: This is still one of the cheapest areas of the state. Nice, single family sized homes still go for 250-400k here, a lot less than places like Montgomery County
-Outdoor areas: There are a lot of great areas for hiking/outdoor activities here. The C&O canal trail, the Appalachian trail, several state parks, and the Antietam battlefield are all located a short drive away. There's also several nice parks in the city.
-Healthcare: The Robinwood area/east side of the city is where most healthcare related things are located. Our local hospital is pretty good, and there are many places to get special treatment/surgeries located in a convenient area
-Weather/climate: This could be a pro or con depending on your preferences. Hagerstown's weather is extremely variable. Most of the time it isn't too cold in the winter, but occasionally we do get big snowstorms, or severe ice/wind events. It can also get really warm during the fall/winter every now and then. Summers here are hot and humid, great for going outside, swimming, etc...

Cons:
-Politics: Washington County is a deep red area in a very blue state. As a result, people here tend to be very loud and in-your-face about their political views, and it seems there is a lot of divisiveness present. The downtown area is kinda liberal, while the rest of the county is MAGA land. Racism is also pretty commonplace here.
-Crime: Hagerstown is more dangerous than average, and some parts of the city are definitely a "mini Baltimore". Most of the violent crime is concentrated around Jonathan Street, and south side of town. That being said, its still safer than most of Baltimore, a lot of places in PG County, Salisbury, Ocean City, etc...
-Drugs: The Opioid Crisis is in full swing here, and the I-70/I-81 interchange is often referred to as the "heroin highway". It's not uncommon to see people drugged out in town. This is probably one of the biggest problems in our community, and it has become highly publicized at times
-The Police: The cops here seem corrupt and generally unhelpful. They definitely treat specific types of people (white, conservative, etc...), better than others. It seems they don't care to actually help deal with the drug problems, just arrest people, throw em in jail, and return them to the streets

Overall I'd consider Hagerstown an alright place to live. It could be a lot better if we could get past deep rooted political problems. If you want to live in a large, progressive city, Hagerstown is not it. But if you're not particularly bothered by that stuff, and you enjoy outdoor recreation, it is a great place to move to. Read Less
Country Living with City Convenience - Hagerstown, Maryland 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 26, 2018) Hagerstown is located in Washington County, Maryland and is the county seat. Hagerstown is a relatively small city (population: 40,452 Census 2010), so you get the beauty and serenity of country life, with the convenience of the city (shopping, etc.). I absolutely love Hagerstown ...Read More .

The primary industry right now in Hagerstown, aside from several private farms, where employment is concerned are the prisons, of which there are 3 medium-security facilities in the area. You can also expect the typical jobs in the healthcare fields as well as employment in the retail and service sectors.

The family-owned restaurants make having dinner out a treat. For those who love shopping, you simply have to check out the great deals at all of the outlet stores near I-70! As for nightlife, there are a few bars and clubs around, but if you are expecting to go clubbing like they do in say, New York, Hagerstown is not that kind of place.

The area is just loaded with plenty to do however, regardless of the season and your particular interests, such as hunting, fishing, outdoor activities, community activities and more. Read Less
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      B Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Hagerstown? Yes, there are some amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      University Plaza
      South Prospect Street Historic District
      Greenawalt Park
      Greenawalt Park
      Community Garden
      Brandenburg Memorial Park
      Memorial Park
      City Park

      Entertainment

      The Maryland Theatre
      Hagerstown Cultural Trail
      Hagerstown Cultural Trail
      Discovery Station
      Hagerstown Cultural Trail
      Hagerstown Cultural Trail
      Jonathan Hager House and Museum
      Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

      Food & Drink

      Locust Point Market
      McDonald's
      Central City Liquors
      Taco Bell
      Little Caesars
      Papa John's
      Brothers Pizza City Park
      Side Pockets

      D+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Hagerstown? Of all people who commute, 3.2% take public transportation in Hagerstown.
      Drive to Work
      73%

      4% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      3%

      2% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      4%

      1% higher than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Hagerstown a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Western Maryland Hospital Center

      Pharmacies

      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens

      Doctors

      Partners In Pediatrics and Family Health