Waldo County, Maine

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.1 | 40,620 people · 7th most distressed in Maine
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Waldo County, ME falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.1 — 1838th 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 7th of 16 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Waldo County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 73.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 73.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 50.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 15
Structural Poverty 47.5
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Consumer Credit Distress 44.8
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 31
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Waldo County
Waldo County, ME 46.1 Normal —
Somerset County, ME 50.6 Elevated +4.5
Penobscot County, ME 49.1 Normal +3.0
Kennebec County, ME 45.8 Normal -0.2
Hancock County, ME 42.4 Normal -3.7
Knox County, ME 34.0 Healthy -12.1
Lincoln County, ME 28.4 Healthy -17.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Waldo County
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal +0.0
Gladwin County, MI 46.0 Normal -0.1
Dickinson County, KS 46.1 Normal +0.1
Adams County, NE 45.9 Normal -0.2
Bandera County, TX 46.3 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Waldo County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Waldo County.

WALDO COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERS
Belfast
207-338-6809-1010 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

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 Waldo 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Waldo County has a County Distress Index score of 46.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,838th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Maine out of 16 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Waldo County?

    The primary driver of distress in Waldo County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 73.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Waldo County compare to neighboring counties?

    Waldo County (46.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Somerset County, ME (50.6); Penobscot County, ME (49.1); Kennebec County, ME (45.8).

  • 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 Normal 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). Waldo County's score of 46.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Waldo 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 Waldo County?

    Waldo County, Maine has a population of approximately 40,620 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.