Dorchester County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.5 | 32,879 people · 5th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Dorchester County, MD shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.5 — 416th 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 5th of 24 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dorchester County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.0 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Housing Cost Burden 73.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 81
Structural Poverty 73.3
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 97
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Consumer Credit Distress 67.5
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 75
Economic Vitality 53.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dorchester County
Dorchester County, MD 69.5 Serious —
Somerset County, MD 73.8 Serious +4.3
Wicomico County, MD 69.7 Serious +0.2
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated -5.4
Sussex County, DE 48.0 Normal -21.4
Calvert County, MD 43.6 Normal -25.8
Talbot County, MD 41.5 Normal -27.9
St. Mary's County, MD 40.8 Normal -28.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dorchester County
Casey County, KY 69.5 Serious -0.0
Evangeline Parish, LA 69.4 Serious -0.0
Bladen County, NC 69.3 Serious -0.1
Uvalde County, TX 69.3 Serious -0.1
Escambia County, AL 69.6 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dorchester County

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 Dorchester 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Dorchester County, Maryland?

    Dorchester County has a County Distress Index score of 69.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 416th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dorchester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dorchester County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dorchester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dorchester County (69.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Somerset County, MD (73.8); Wicomico County, MD (69.7); Caroline County, MD (64.1).

  • 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 Serious 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). Dorchester County's score of 69.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Dorchester 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 Dorchester County?

    Dorchester County, Maryland has a population of approximately 32,879 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.