Cumberland County, Maine

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.6 | 310,230 people · 15th most distressed in Maine
American Default Research

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Cumberland County, ME ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.6 — 2604th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Maine, it ranks 15th of 16 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cumberland County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 74.8 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 74.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Housing Cost Burden 72.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 69
Consumer Credit Distress 17.3
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 8
Legal Distress 7.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7
Structural Poverty 6.3
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 3
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 8

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Cumberland County, ME 32.6 Healthy —
Androscoggin County, ME 55.0 Elevated +22.4
Oxford County, ME 47.9 Normal +15.3
Sagadahoc County, ME 36.4 Normal +3.8
York County, ME 33.8 Healthy +1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy -0.1
Ottawa County, MI 32.8 Healthy +0.2
Marin County, CA 33.0 Healthy +0.4
Davis County, UT 32.2 Healthy -0.4
Brown County, WI 33.1 Healthy +0.5

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Cumberland County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Cumberland County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cumberland County.

AVESTA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Portland
207-553-7777 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
COASTAL ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
BRUNSWICK
207-517-9877 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Maine →

Find an Attorney

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 207-622-7523

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Cumberland County residents at no cost.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance 207-774-8211

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Maine →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cumberland County, Maine?

    Cumberland County has a County Distress Index score of 32.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,604th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Maine out of 16 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cumberland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cumberland County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 74.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Cumberland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cumberland County (32.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Androscoggin County, ME (55.0); Oxford County, ME (47.9); Sagadahoc County, ME (36.4).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Cumberland County's score of 32.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Cumberland County's CDI score?

    Cumberland County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Cumberland County?

    Cumberland County, Maine has a population of approximately 310,230 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.