Caroline County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.1 | 33,593 people · 6th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Caroline County, MD registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.1 — 706th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Maryland, it ranks 6th of 24 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Caroline County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.3 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 69.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 77
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Legal Distress 67.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Consumer Credit Distress 57.5
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 56.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 97
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Caroline County
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated —
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious +7.3
Dorchester County, MD 69.5 Serious +5.4
Sussex County, DE 48.0 Normal -16.0
Talbot County, MD 41.5 Normal -22.6
Queen Anne's County, MD 36.4 Normal -27.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Caroline County
Waynesboro city, VA 64.1 Elevated 0.0
McCurtain County, OK 64.1 Elevated +0.0
Franklin County, GA 64.1 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, KY 64.0 Elevated -0.1
DeWitt County, TX 64.2 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Caroline County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Caroline County.

MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC)
GREENSBORO
667-254-8063 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-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 Caroline 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 Caroline County, Maryland?

    Caroline County has a County Distress Index score of 64.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 706th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Caroline County?

    The primary driver of distress in Caroline County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Caroline County compare to neighboring counties?

    Caroline County (64.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Kent County, DE (71.4); Dorchester County, MD (69.5); Sussex County, DE (48.0).

  • 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). Caroline County's score of 64.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Caroline 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 Caroline County?

    Caroline County, Maryland has a population of approximately 33,593 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.