Howard County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.2 | 336,001 people · 23rd most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Howard County, MD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.2 — 2514th 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 23rd of 24 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Howard County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.3 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 63
Legal Distress 50.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Economic Vitality 35.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Consumer Credit Distress 19.3
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 16
Structural Poverty 4.8
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Howard County
Howard County, MD 34.2 Healthy —
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious +39.3
Baltimore County, MD 62.6 Elevated +28.4
Anne Arundel County, MD 40.9 Normal +6.7
Montgomery County, MD 40.3 Normal +6.1
Frederick County, MD 38.8 Normal +4.6
Carroll County, MD 32.3 Healthy -1.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Howard County
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy -0.0
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy -0.2
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy +0.5
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy -0.5
Dane County, WI 35.0 Healthy +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Howard County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Howard County.

MAKING CHANGE CENTER
Columbia
443-518-7647 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPre-Lease/Pre-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 Howard 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 Howard County, Maryland?

    Howard County has a County Distress Index score of 34.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,514th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 23rd in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Howard County?

    The primary driver of distress in Howard County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Howard County compare to neighboring counties?

    Howard County (34.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Prince George's County, MD (73.5); 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 Healthy 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). Howard County's score of 34.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Howard 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 Howard County?

    Howard County, Maryland has a population of approximately 336,001 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.