Real Estate Investing in Hagerstown, Maryland (21740)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Washington County • Population: 63,140 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21740 (Hagerstown, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Hagerstown, MD (21740)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $292,157
Avg Monthly Rent $1,277
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,150
% Renters 46.2%

Market Analysis: 21740 Hagerstown

Investors eyeing 21740 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $292K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 21740 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 21740 sits on the difficult end of the MD spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 21740 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 21740 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hagerstown:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,277/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 21740

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$90,837/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $144,999 $950 4.7% +4.9% $144,999
2BR $219,052 $1,240 4.1% +9.7% $109,526
3BR $283,875 $1,670 4.2% +9.0% $94,625
4BR $389,041 $1,870 3.5% +8.0% $97,260
5BR $454,185 +8.0% $90,837

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$310K$273K$236K$199K$162K$125KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,367$1,220$1,073$926$779$631Jun 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21740 Compare?

Metric 21740 Hagerstown Maryland
Home Value $292,157 $97,386 $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,277 $1,277 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 21740? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21740 (Hagerstown, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $292,157
Monthly Rent $1,277
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21740

Population: 63,140

💰 Median Household Income
$57,150
This area
$57,150
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.2%
This area
46.2%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.3 years
This area
39.3 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.6%
Black/African American 17.3%
Other/Mixed 10.4%
Hispanic/Latino 5.3%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 21740

A Avg School Grade
15 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$17,101 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Bester Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Barbara Ingram School for the Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
330 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincolnshire Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
500 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pangborn Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
711 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Salem Avenue Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

E. Russell Hicks Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
827 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Western Heights Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
887 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Emma K. Doub Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Fountain Rock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Jonathan Hager Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
490 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
A Very Good

Rockland Woods Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
643 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marshall Street School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
53 Students
👨‍🏫
3.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Washington County Job Development Center

📚 Grade 12 High School
👥
35 Students
👨‍🏫
5.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Hagerstown High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,645 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,101 Per Student
C+ Average

Evening High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$17,101 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 1,844 Off-Campus Students
D
Award Beauty School
132 students · 1.1 mi
C
Hagerstown Community College
5,433 students · 3.8 mi
C+
Shepherd University
3,318 students · 14.2 mi
B
James Rumsey Technical Institute
137 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,844 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Hagerstown, MD?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Hagerstown, MD best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $292K price point.

Are rents high in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown, MD rentals go for roughly $1,277/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $292K acquisition costs.

Where do home prices stand in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown, MD median home values land near $292K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,277/mo-per-month rentals.

What is it like being a landlord in Hagerstown, MD?

MD law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Hagerstown inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What are vacancy rates like in Hagerstown, MD?

Vacancy in Hagerstown, MD is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,277/mo.

You know 21740 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21740 ranks in Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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