Cecil County, Maryland

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.4 | 105,672 people · 11th most distressed in Maryland
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Cecil County, MD falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.4 — 1711th 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 11th of 24 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Cecil County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 73.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 73.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Employment & Wages 68.0
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 69
Debt & Delinquency 55.3
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 33
Student Loan Delinquency 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Income & Poverty 30.6
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 23
Community Vulnerability 15.0
Uninsured Rate 6
Disability Rate 24

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Cecil County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Cecil County
Cecil County, MD 48.4 Normal —
Kent County, MD 50.4 Elevated +1.9
New Castle County, DE 49.5 Normal +1.0
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal -5.9
Harford County, MD 34.4 Healthy -14.0
Chester County, PA 23.8 Healthy -24.7

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Cecil County
Kennebec County, ME 48.4 Normal -0.0
Saline County, KS 48.4 Normal -0.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.4 Normal -0.0
Bannock County, ID 48.4 Normal -0.0
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cecil County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cecil County.

MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC) (CECIL CO) FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER
ELKTON
667-254-8063 Website
MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MRDC) FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER
ELKTON
667-254-8063 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 Cecil 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cecil County, Maryland?

    Cecil County has a County Distress Index score of 48.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,711th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Maryland out of 24 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cecil County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cecil County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 73.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cecil County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cecil County (48.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Kent County, MD (50.4); New Castle County, DE (49.5); Lancaster County, PA (42.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Cecil County?

    Cecil County, Maryland has a population of approximately 105,672 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.