Baltimore city, Maryland

County Distress Index: Crisis · 81.9 | 565,239 people · 1st most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Baltimore city, MD ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 81.9 — 44th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Maryland, it ranks 1st of 24 counties. It scores higher than all 2 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Baltimore city's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.3 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Housing Cost Burden 92.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 79.3
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 79.2
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 99
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 63.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 64

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Baltimore city
Baltimore city, MD 81.9 Crisis —
Baltimore County, MD 62.6 Elevated -19.3
Anne Arundel County, MD 40.9 Normal -41.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Baltimore city
Shelby County, TN 81.3 Crisis -0.6
Hidalgo County, TX 79.2 Serious -2.7
Osceola County, FL 79.1 Serious -2.8
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious -2.9
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious -3.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Baltimore city as a CSV file.

Find Help in Baltimore city

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Baltimore city.

BELAIR - EDISON NEIGHBORHOODS, INC.
Baltimore
410-485-8422 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, INC
Baltimore
410-500-5300 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
CREDIT.ORG - MARYLAND BRANCH
Baltimore
443-345-0650 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
DRUID HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Baltimore
410-523-1350 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
GARWYN OAKS NORTHWEST HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER, INC
Baltimore
410-947-0084
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Maryland →

Find an Attorney

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

Maryland State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 410-685-7878

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Baltimore city residents at no cost.

Maryland Legal Aid 410-539-5340
Community Law Center (Baltimore) 410-366-0922
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) 410-539-6800
Civil Justice (Baltimore) 410-706-0900

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 Maryland →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Baltimore city, Maryland?

    Baltimore city has a County Distress Index score of 81.9 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 44th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Baltimore city?

    The primary driver of distress in Baltimore city is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Baltimore city compare to neighboring counties?

    Baltimore city (81.9) can be compared to its 2 neighboring counties: Baltimore County, MD (62.6); Anne Arundel County, MD (40.9).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Baltimore city's score of 81.9 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

  • What data sources power Baltimore city's CDI score?

    Baltimore city'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 Baltimore city?

    Baltimore city, Maryland has a population of approximately 565,239 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.