In January 2026, the Department of Homeland Security purchased an 825,000 sq. ft. facility in Williamsport to convert into an ICE detention facility. A landmark peer-reviewed MIT Press study found that new correctional facilities significantly decrease nearby residential home values.
Also known as 16220 Wright Road, Williamsport, MD 21795. Purchased by DHS for conversion into an ICE detention facility.
Enter your Washington County property address to calculate your straight-line distance to the facility, verify your official Maryland SDAT appraisal, and calculate your estimated property value loss based on peer-reviewed economic research.
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Want to test what a 3.4%, 2.0%, or 1.8% decline looks like on your estimated market value or purchase price? Enter any amount below:
The map below displays the proposed ICE facility in Williamsport and concentric circles illustrating the distance tiers analyzed in the MIT Press study.
Applying the empirical findings of the MIT Press study to residential parcels in Washington County reveals that nearby homeowners bear an estimated $22.3 million in collective property value devaluation.
| Community / Area | Distance to Facility | Applicable Study Tier | Estimated Collective Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Williamsport (All Residences) | 0.00 – 2.49 Miles | 1.8% to 3.4% Decline | −$8.4 Million |
| Halfway / Kemps Mill | 0.50 – 2.00 Miles | 2.0% to 3.4% Decline | −$6.1 Million |
| South & West Hagerstown | 1.50 – 2.49 Miles | 1.8% to 2.0% Decline | −$4.9 Million |
| Pinesburg & Wilson-Conococheague | 1.80 – 2.49 Miles | 1.8% Decline | −$2.9 Million |
| Total Estimated Washington County Residential Wealth Loss | −$22,300,000 | ||
In November 2024, MIT Press published a comprehensive national econometric analysis titled “The Local Impacts of Prisons” in The Review of Economics and Statistics.
Researchers analyzed decades of national housing transactions surrounding newly opened correctional facilities, controlling for county-level economic trends, interest rates, and demographic shifts.
The negative impact is greatest closest to the facility: home values fell by 3.4% within 1.24 miles with high statistical certainty (p < 0.01), and 1.8% within 2.49 miles.
DHS has provided no public economic impact assessment or compensation mechanism for the multi-million dollar asset devaluation imposed on Washington County property owners.
Use the figures generated for your home to submit an official comment to DHS and local officials. Personalize and copy the pre-written testimony below:
When you submit your street address, the tool locates the exact property parcel through the Maryland Department of Planning's official iMAP / SDAT (State Department of Assessments and Taxation) records. It retrieves the official full appraised property value on record for tax year 2026 and applies the distance-based loss percentage identified in the MIT Press research study.
These figures come directly from "The Local Impacts of Prisons", a peer-reviewed empirical study published in November 2024 in The Review of Economics and Statistics (MIT Press). The researchers analyzed home transactions across the United States before and after new correctional facilities opened, identifying a statistically significant drop of 3.4% within 1.24 miles and 1.8% within 2.49 miles.
No. Your address is sent securely in real-time only to match U.S. Census coordinates and Maryland public GIS property records. Neither this website nor any third party stores your address, search history, or property calculation.
The study found that beyond 2.49 miles, price declines were not statistically significant at standard scientific thresholds (e.g. at 3.11 miles). The calculator therefore reports zero assigned reduction for addresses beyond 2.49 miles to maintain scientific integrity. However, broader regional economic and traffic impacts may still affect the wider area.