CostIndexUSA

Hagerstown, MD vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMD
Hagerstown
94.2
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Hagerstown is slightly cheaper than Houston — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hagerstown, you would need $83,700 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+38.0%
Hagerstown
75.7
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries+4.4%
Hagerstown
96.4
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation3.9%
Hagerstown
104.5
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare3.9%
Hagerstown
94.5
Houston
90.8
Utilities≈ Equal
Hagerstown
95.7
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Hagerstown to see what you'd need to earn in Houston to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 94.2) = salary × 1.0467. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hagerstown, MD

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
75.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Houston has 38.0% higher housing costs compared to Hagerstown.

Income & Job Market

Hagerstown, MD

Median Household Income
$75,400
Per Capita Income
$43,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
43,484
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsRetailGovernment

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Hagerstown, MD
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.