Hagerstown, MD Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Hagerstown Crime

Is Hagerstown, MD safe to live in?

By the numbers, Hagerstown holds up well. Of the 12 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 92% earned a Grade A or B — the two tiers that fall under the "Safe" classification. Specifically, 50% of neighborhoods (6 out of 12) received a straight A, while 41.7% (5 out of 12) landed at a B. Only one neighborhood — Southwest Hagerstown — sits at a C+, and not a single neighborhood scored a D or F. The city-wide safety rating is B, and the overall crime grade is C+, reflecting that while the typical neighborhood is safe, city-level infrastructure factors like a 24.6% poverty rate and 8.4% unemployment do weigh on the aggregate score. For most residents choosing where to settle, the neighborhood-level picture is the more actionable data point, and that picture is largely positive.

What is the crime rate in Hagerstown compared to its neighborhoods?

Hagerstown's overall crime grade of C+ sits at a city-wide level and is influenced by socioeconomic indicators — a median household income of $41,905, a poverty rate of 24.6%, and an unemployment rate of 8.4% — that tend to elevate aggregate crime metrics. At the neighborhood level, however, the story is more nuanced. 50% of neighborhoods earned an A grade, meaning half the city's analyzed areas are among the safest possible. Another 41.7% earned a B grade. The lone outlier is Southwest Hagerstown at C+. Areas like the East End (B+, median income $54,728), West End (B+, median income $43,303), and Southeast Hagerstown (B+, median income $54,821) all perform better than the city-wide grade suggests, illustrating that where you live within Hagerstown matters significantly.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Hagerstown in 2026?

The top five safest neighborhoods in Hagerstown all carry an A grade, with household incomes notably above the city median of $41,905:

• North End — Grade A, median income $87,490, population 2,910
• Northwest Hagerstown — Grade A, median income $79,071, population 3,394
• Dual Highway Area — Grade A, median income $80,151, population 725
• Collegiate Acres — Grade A, median income $72,425, population 85
• South End — Grade A-, median income $63,719, population 3,039

Northeast Hagerstown also earns an A- with a median income of $69,855. The pattern is clear: neighborhoods with household incomes between $63,000 and $87,000 — well above the city median — consistently achieve the highest safety grades. For families prioritizing safety, North End and Northwest Hagerstown represent the strongest combination of population size, income stability, and low crime.

Which Hagerstown neighborhoods have higher crime?

Only one neighborhood in the 2026 analysis falls below a B grade: Southwest Hagerstown at C+. The Central neighborhood comes in at B-, making it the second area worth noting for residents who prioritize safety above all else. West End (B+), East End (B+), and Southeast Hagerstown (B+) round out the higher end of the moderate-crime tier, though all three still qualify as safe by the B-grade standard. Importantly, zero neighborhoods scored a D or F, which distinguishes Hagerstown from many comparably sized cities. Even the highest-crime area, Southwest Hagerstown, is only one grade step below the city-wide average — not a dramatic outlier.

Is Hagerstown a good place to live in 2026?

Hagerstown presents a mixed but ultimately livable picture for 2026. On the positive side: 92% of neighborhoods are rated A or B, median rent is a relatively affordable $864, and the median home value of $159,076 makes ownership accessible compared to most Mid-Atlantic metros. The population of 194,602 supports a full range of urban amenities without big-city density (1,270 people per sq mi). The challenges are real — a 24.6% poverty rate and 8.4% unemployment are above national averages and contribute to the C+ overall crime grade. But for buyers or renters targeting neighborhoods like North End, Northwest Hagerstown, or the Dual Highway Area, day-to-day safety conditions are strong, with those areas holding A grades and median incomes above $79,000. Hagerstown rewards research: the right neighborhood choice makes a substantial difference in lived experience.

How does neighborhood income correlate with safety grades in Hagerstown?

The correlation is striking in Hagerstown's 2026 data. Every neighborhood earning a Grade A has a median household income of at least $63,719 — with North End topping the list at $87,490. By contrast, the West End (B+) has a median income of $43,303, and Central (B-) reflects the lower end of the income spectrum. Southwest Hagerstown, the only C+ neighborhood, aligns with the city's overall median of $41,905. This pattern mirrors national research showing that concentrated poverty and unemployment elevate property and opportunistic crime. For prospective residents, neighborhoods with incomes above $60,000 — North End, Northwest Hagerstown, Dual Highway Area, Collegiate Acres, and Northeast Hagerstown — offer both the strongest safety grades and the most economic stability in the city.