Talbot County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.5 | 37,823 people · 16th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Talbot County, MD falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.5 — 2095th 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 16th of 24 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Talbot County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.0 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 58
Economic Vitality 59.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 39.2
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 14
Legal Distress 32.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Consumer Credit Distress 21.1
Debt in Collections 13
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Talbot County
Talbot County, MD 41.5 Normal —
Dorchester County, MD 69.5 Serious +27.9
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated +22.6
Calvert County, MD 43.6 Normal +2.1
Anne Arundel County, MD 40.9 Normal -0.6
Queen Anne's County, MD 36.4 Normal -5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Talbot County
Amador County, CA 41.5 Normal -0.0
White County, IL 41.5 Normal +0.0
Mower County, MN 41.5 Normal +0.0
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal -0.0
Jackson County, WI 41.5 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Talbot County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Talbot County.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHOPTANK
Trappe
410-476-3204 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Talbot 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 Talbot County, Maryland?

    Talbot County has a County Distress Index score of 41.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,095th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Talbot County?

    The primary driver of distress in Talbot County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Talbot County compare to neighboring counties?

    Talbot County (41.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Dorchester County, MD (69.5); Caroline County, MD (64.1); Calvert County, MD (43.6).

  • 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). Talbot County's score of 41.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Talbot 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 Talbot County?

    Talbot County, Maryland has a population of approximately 37,823 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.