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 typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. 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. Late payments on loans come next, at 92.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Baltimore city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Baltimore city does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (5.9%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.0 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.3% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.9% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 92.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind9.9% · August 202594th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.2% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score54.2% · second quarter of 202688th 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
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202689th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.7% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
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- 61.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.0% · 202480th percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.1% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability16.5% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- People without health insurance5.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,451 · 202459th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; 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 Sep 2026.
Where the money in Baltimore city comes from
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 that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Baltimore city
Maryland
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Baltimore city, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 30.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Baltimore city, Maryland, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Baltimore city getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 17.1% in 2011 to 20.0% in 2012.
The share of households in Baltimore city getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 23.2%
Low on the chart: 13.1% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Baltimore city, Maryland.
How Baltimore city has changed
Baltimore city's population fell 38% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
Biggest drop: 1974 to 1979, reaching 807,774. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Baltimore city, Maryland.
The number of jobs located in Baltimore city had its largest drop, from 445,331 in 1990 to 384,330 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Baltimore city fell by about a quarter from 1990 to 2020, reaching 328,182, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 445,331 in 1990. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Baltimore city, Maryland.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.6% | 2025 5.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 28.1% | 2024 18.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,564 | 2024 $63,451 |
The table uses 5.2% for 2025; the score uses 5.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Baltimore city's history
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
1950
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
1996
Lightning in June 1996 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
Lightning in June 1998 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A flash flood in November 2003 killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A tornado in November 2018 killed two people. 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
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 | 61 | 9.3% | 17.1% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 17 | 6.6% | 12.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 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.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Baltimore city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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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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Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
Legal aid
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Maryland Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, 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 Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- 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.