Kenosha Hagerstown-Martinsburg

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 101.1 → 94.2
Rent Delta: -$141/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 7% lower cost of living
  • + $141/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $4K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More expensive childcare

Moving from Kenosha to Hagerstown-Martinsburg shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 101.1 to 94.2 (100 = US average), so a Kenosha salary needs to be multiplied by 0.93 to hold the same purchasing power in Hagerstown-Martinsburg. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,402/month in Kenosha to $1,261/month in Hagerstown-Martinsburg - a lower monthly bill of $141, or $1,692/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $68,406 in Kenosha versus $64,224 in Hagerstown-Martinsburg - a raw gap of $4,182 lower. The Hagerstown-Martinsburg labor market has 100,850 tracked jobs against 69,670 in Kenosha, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Kenosha and Hagerstown-Martinsburg are 280 and 425 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 14.5:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $11,256/year in Kenosha versus $14,631/year in Hagerstown-Martinsburg. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Kenosha
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 101.1
RPP 94.2
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,402/mo
$1,261/mo
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
💼 Wages
$68,406
$64,224
Kenosha
🔒 Crime
280 per 100K
425 per 100K
Kenosha
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
14.5:1
Kenosha
👶 Childcare
$11,256/yr
$14,631/yr
Kenosha
🌿 Environment
2233 violations
506 violations
Hagerstown-Martinsburg

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Hagerstown-Martinsburg
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hagerstown-Martinsburg more expensive than Kenosha?
Hagerstown-Martinsburg has an RPP of 94.2 compared to Kenosha's 101.1 (100 = national average). Kenosha is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Hagerstown-Martinsburg is $1,261/mo vs $1,402/mo in Kenosha.
What are salaries like in Hagerstown-Martinsburg compared to Kenosha?
The median salary in Hagerstown-Martinsburg is $64,224 compared to $68,406 in Kenosha. That's a -$4,182 difference.
Is Hagerstown-Martinsburg safer than Kenosha?
The violent crime rate near Hagerstown-Martinsburg is 425 per 100K vs 280 per 100K near Kenosha (state-level data). Kenosha has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Hagerstown-Martinsburg to match my Kenosha salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Kenosha salary by 0.93. For example, a $75,000 salary in Kenosha would need to be $69,847 in Hagerstown-Martinsburg. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)