In Baltimore city, Maryland, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Baltimore city, 37.9% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 97% of U.S. counties.
What drives Baltimore city's score
In Baltimore city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 95.0. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 37.9% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), higher than in 99% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 94.5.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Baltimore city does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (5.9%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Baltimore city ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 95.0 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.9% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.3% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
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- 94.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.2% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a credit card behind9.9% · August 202594th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.6% · Q4 202593rd percentile
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- 92.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector36.8% · August 202589th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people360.6 · 202594th percentile
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- 72.9 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.7% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average5.6% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202689th percentile
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- 61.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line24.1% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability16.5% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,451 · 202459th percentile
- People below the poverty line18.0% · 202480th percentile
- People without health insurance5.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Baltimore city comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Baltimore city
Maryland
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Baltimore city in 2024, pay from work was 56 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 13 cents. Benefit checks were 31 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 11 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Baltimore city, benefit checks rose from 11 to 31 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Baltimore city, Maryland: 30.5% and 56.4% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 30.5% of all personal income in Baltimore city, Maryland (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Baltimore city, 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Baltimore city has changed
The number of people living in Baltimore city fell by about four in 10 between 1969 and 2024, from 909,951 to 568,271. The number of jobs located there fell by about two in 10 from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 7.6% in 1990 to 5.2% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 909,951 | 2024 568,271 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 445,331 | 2024 348,184 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.6% | 2025 5.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 28.1% | 2024 18.0% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $21,564 | 2024 $63,451 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 10.7% | 2024 30.5% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Baltimore city's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 949,708. The 2020 Census counted 585,708, 62% of the peak. Census Bureau
1729
Founded August 8, 1729 when the Governor of Maryland signed an act allowing the building of a town on the North side of the Patapsco River. Wikipedia
1996
Lightning: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
Lightning: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Flash flood: four deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
Tornado: two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1971
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Baltimore city, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Baltimore city beside its neighbors
Baltimore city scores higher than all two counties that border it. Of the group, Baltimore city gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (30.5%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore city, MD | 97 | 18.0% | 30.5% |
| Baltimore County, MD | 63 | 9.3% | 17.1% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 19 | 6.6% | 12.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Baltimore city the poorest county in Maryland?
No, Baltimore city's poverty rate was 18.0% in 2024, 2nd highest of 24 in Maryland (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Somerset County, at 20.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Baltimore city ranks 1st of 24 in the state.
Baltimore city in photographs
Places in Baltimore city from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
The skyline of Baltimore, Maryland.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor, cropped and resized for use as a Wikivoyage banner.
Photo: Jawed Karim ( en:User:Jawed ) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baltimore city, Maryland: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Baltimore city, Maryland?
18.0% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in six people. Among children it was 24.1%.
Is Baltimore city the poorest county in Maryland?
No, Baltimore city's poverty rate was 18.0% in 2024, 2nd highest of 24 in Maryland (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Somerset County, at 20.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Baltimore city ranks 1st of 24 in the state.
What is the population of Baltimore city, Maryland?
About 568,271 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 585,708, 62% of the county's peak of 949,708 in 1950.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Baltimore city
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Belair - Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Credit.org - Maryland Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Community Law Center (Baltimore)
Legal aid
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Civil Justice (Baltimore)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,311 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Baltimore city · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Baltimore city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.