Baltimore County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.6 | 844,703 people · 7th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Baltimore County, MD registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.6 — 795th 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 7th of 24 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Baltimore County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.3 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Housing Cost Burden 87.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 81
Economic Vitality 68.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Consumer Credit Distress 55.2
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 62
Structural Poverty 26.2
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 52
Child Poverty Rate 12
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Baltimore County
Baltimore County, MD 62.6 Elevated —
Baltimore city, MD 81.9 Crisis +19.3
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal -16.2
York County, PA 46.1 Normal -16.5
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal -17.1
Anne Arundel County, MD 40.9 Normal -21.7
Howard County, MD 34.2 Healthy -28.4
Carroll County, MD 32.3 Healthy -30.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Baltimore County
Pinal County, AZ 62.9 Elevated +0.3
Horry County, SC 62.1 Elevated -0.5
Luzerne County, PA 62.1 Elevated -0.5
Seminole County, FL 63.1 Elevated +0.6
Tulsa County, OK 61.8 Elevated -0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Baltimore County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Baltimore County.

DIVERSIFIED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Windsor Mill
410-496-1214 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
OPERATION HOPE PIKESVILLE MD
Pikesville
470-223-0285 Website
Mortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-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 County 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 County, Maryland?

    Baltimore County has a County Distress Index score of 62.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 795th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Baltimore County?

    The primary driver of distress in Baltimore County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Baltimore County compare to neighboring counties?

    Baltimore County (62.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Baltimore city, MD (81.9); Kent County, MD (46.4); York County, PA (46.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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 County's score of 62.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Baltimore 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 Baltimore County?

    Baltimore County, Maryland has a population of approximately 844,703 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.