Kent County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.4 | 19,303 people · 12th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Kent County, MD falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.4 — 1818th 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 12th of 24 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kent County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.0 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 61
Economic Vitality 61.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Structural Poverty 55.7
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 46
Income vs. State Median 91
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Consumer Credit Distress 30.9
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 26
Legal Distress 18.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kent County
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal —
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious +25.0
Baltimore County, MD 62.6 Elevated +16.2
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated +15.3
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated +9.9
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal -0.9
Anne Arundel County, MD 40.9 Normal -5.5
Queen Anne's County, MD 36.4 Normal -10.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kent County
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal +0.0
Parke County, IN 46.4 Normal -0.0
Gilmer County, GA 46.5 Normal +0.1
Mason County, IL 46.5 Normal +0.1
Red Willow County, NE 46.3 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kent County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kent County.

MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC) (KENT CO)
Chestertown
667-254-8051 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 Kent 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 Kent County, Maryland?

    Kent County has a County Distress Index score of 46.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,818th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kent County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kent County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kent County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kent County (46.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Kent County, DE (71.4); Baltimore County, MD (62.6); New Castle County, DE (61.7).

  • 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 Normal 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). Kent County's score of 46.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Kent 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 Kent County?

    Kent County, Maryland has a population of approximately 19,303 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.