Rows tagged local are specific to Martinsburg (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from Hagerstown, MD. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 5/10 (district Berkeley County Schools · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
95.4
metro-area
#95 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
96.1
metro-area
#74 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$5.43
metro-area
#95 of 200 metros
Median household income
$55,240
local
#2807 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$32,075
local
#2898 of 3,220 cities
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
9.11%
local
#2996 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
+7.0%
local
#994 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$198,800
local
#595 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
3.6×
local
#1355 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+2.6%
metro-area
#70 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$117
local
#725 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,701 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$1,046
local
#537 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
945
Median days on market
11
metro-area
#57 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
9.8%
state
#144 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
6.55%
state
#16 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
4.82%
Capital gains tax
5.12%
state
#130 of 200 metros
High earners
No special surtax
Effective property tax rate
0.65%
local
#548 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$1,297
local
#217 of 3,220 cities
Healthcare & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$7,200
state
#139 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$9,000
state
#150 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$60
state
#121 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
1.66% of value (~$465/yr)
state
#1 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Not required
Emissions detail
No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices
4
Avg commute to work
27 min
local
#1559 of 3,220 cities
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
16.1¢/kWh
state
#156 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$145
state
#156 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$3.30/gal
state
#94 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$68
state
#181 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$253
state
#109 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$73
state
#129 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,300
state
#47 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$1,700
state
#86 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient.
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$650
state
#90 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$100
state
#1 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
42
metro-area
#57 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
1,200
metro-area
#104 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
4,600
metro-area
#110 of 200 metros
Avg summer high
88°F
metro-area
#98 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
27°F
metro-area
#114 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
45.0"
metro-area
#125 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
19.3"
metro-area
#122 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
57%
metro-area
#121 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
7a
Frost window
04-10 → 11-01
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
280
state
#134 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
1,900
state
#83 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
120
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Parks
60
Hiking areas
15
Golf courses
15
Shooting ranges
4
Lakes
4
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
2
state
#147 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.