Wicomico County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.7 | 104,800 people · 4th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

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Wicomico County, MD shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.7 — 409th 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 4th of 24 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wicomico County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 85.6 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 85.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 92
Legal Distress 80.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 64.6
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 79
Economic Vitality 61.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 77
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 29
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Structural Poverty 60.9
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 18
Transfer Income Dependency 63

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wicomico County
Wicomico County, MD 69.7 Serious —
Somerset County, MD 73.8 Serious +4.1
Dorchester County, MD 69.5 Serious -0.2
Sussex County, DE 48.0 Normal -21.6
Worcester County, MD 45.1 Normal -24.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wicomico County
Cleveland County, NC 69.7 Serious +0.0
Garland County, AR 69.7 Serious +0.0
Navarro County, TX 69.8 Serious +0.2
Hamblen County, TN 69.5 Serious -0.2
Johnson County, TX 69.9 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wicomico County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Wicomico County.

SALISBURY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE, INC
Salisbury
410-543-4626 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
TELAMON CORPORATION - SALISBURY BRANCH
Salisbury
410-546-4604 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Wicomico 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 Wicomico County, Maryland?

    Wicomico County has a County Distress Index score of 69.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 409th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wicomico County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wicomico County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 85.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Wicomico County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wicomico County (69.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Somerset County, MD (73.8); Dorchester County, MD (69.5); Sussex County, DE (48.0).

  • 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). Wicomico County's score of 69.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wicomico 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 Wicomico County?

    Wicomico County, Maryland has a population of approximately 104,800 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.