Cecil County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.3 | 105,672 people · 11th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Cecil County, MD registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.3 — 1186th 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 Maryland, it ranks 11th of 24 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cecil County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 77.4 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 77.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 90
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Housing Cost Burden 71.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 45
Legal Distress 56.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Consumer Credit Distress 51.4
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 58
Structural Poverty 33.0
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cecil County
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated —
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated +5.4
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal -9.9
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal -10.8
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal -13.7
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy -27.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cecil County
Coffee County, AL 56.3 Elevated +0.0
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated +0.0
Carbon County, PA 56.2 Elevated -0.0
Sullivan County, NY 56.3 Elevated +0.1
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cecil County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cecil County.

MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC) (CECIL CO) FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER
ELKTON
667-254-8063 Website
MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC) FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER
ELKTON
667-254-8063 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

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 Cecil 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 Cecil County, Maryland?

    Cecil County has a County Distress Index score of 56.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,186th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cecil County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cecil County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 77.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Cecil County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cecil County (56.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: New Castle County, DE (61.7); Kent County, MD (46.4); Harford County, MD (45.5).

  • 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). Cecil County's score of 56.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cecil 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 Cecil County?

    Cecil County, Maryland has a population of approximately 105,672 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.