Most cash-strapped cities in Maryland (2026)
Cambridge is the most cash-strapped city in Maryland on our Cash Strain Index, followed by Salisbury, Elkton. We ranked all 137 Maryland cities with 10,000+ residents on rent burden, low household incomes, poverty and unemployment. Scaggsville ranks as the least strained.
All 137 Maryland cities ranked
| Rank | City | Score | Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | Households under $35k | Poverty rate | Unemployment rate | Rent as % of median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 97.3 | 63.2% | 39.8% | 26.4% | 8.7% | 26.8% |
| 2 | Salisbury | 94.1 | 54.4% | 33.4% | 24.3% | 8.8% | 27.0% |
| 3 | Elkton | 93.3 | 69.4% | 27.2% | 20.1% | 6.9% | 28.3% |
| 4 | East Riverdale | 89.4 | 53.0% | 17.1% | 24.0% | 10.7% | 25.2% |
| 5 | Hagerstown | 89.3 | 51.6% | 35.0% | 21.9% | 7.2% | 25.6% |
| 6 | Landover | 88.4 | 60.7% | 22.8% | 19.5% | 6.7% | 28.9% |
| 7 | Glassmanor | 88.3 | 64.1% | 22.0% | 14.7% | 7.9% | 28.4% |
| 8 | Dundalk | 88.3 | 60.9% | 27.4% | 17.4% | 6.9% | 27.4% |
| 9 | Suitland | 85.9 | 54.7% | 23.6% | 13.5% | 8.7% | 28.6% |
| 10 | Baltimore | 85.8 | 53.7% | 30.8% | 19.7% | 6.5% | 25.7% |
| 11 | Cumberland | 85.2 | 52.1% | 38.6% | 25.1% | 6.3% | 18.5% |
| 12 | Langley Park | 85.2 | 51.7% | 20.9% | 28.3% | 6.9% | 24.0% |
| 13 | Reisterstown | 82.8 | 65.7% | 22.4% | 10.7% | 9.0% | 22.4% |
| 14 | Greenbelt | 81.9 | 53.7% | 23.4% | 19.1% | 6.7% | 25.8% |
| 15 | White Oak | 79.8 | 55.2% | 22.5% | 15.1% | 7.1% | 26.0% |
| 16 | Montgomery Village | 78.3 | 70.3% | 15.5% | 13.1% | 6.3% | 24.1% |
| 17 | Calverton | 76.4 | 71.1% | 15.0% | 9.7% | 6.7% | 24.2% |
| 18 | Essex | 75.4 | 58.9% | 24.9% | 12.6% | 6.2% | 23.6% |
| 19 | Adelphi | 74.6 | 57.8% | 15.2% | 16.2% | 6.0% | 26.4% |
| 20 | Forestville | 74.2 | 56.2% | 22.6% | 10.3% | 5.1% | 29.2% |
| 21 | Milford Mill | 73.8 | 55.7% | 19.5% | 8.7% | 6.7% | 28.5% |
| 22 | Randallstown | 73.2 | 67.2% | 20.0% | 9.2% | 6.7% | 22.1% |
| 23 | Summerfield | 72.9 | 50.7% | 19.2% | 12.9% | 6.7% | 27.6% |
| 24 | Middle River | 72.6 | 61.7% | 20.7% | 14.7% | 4.4% | 25.0% |
| 25 | Edgewood | 70.3 | 58.9% | 19.5% | 12.0% | 7.9% | 20.4% |
| 26 | Walker Mill | 70.0 | 55.0% | 19.5% | 10.3% | 8.2% | 22.6% |
| 27 | Bel Air | 69.7 | 61.0% | 21.5% | 13.8% | 4.4% | 24.0% |
| 28 | Lochearn | 68.6 | 61.8% | 19.9% | 9.8% | 5.9% | 23.5% |
| 29 | Ocean Pines | 65.8 | 66.8% | 10.8% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 27.0% |
| 30 | South Laurel | 65.4 | 54.6% | 15.0% | 11.8% | 6.7% | 24.7% |
| 31 | Aberdeen | 65.0 | 55.1% | 20.4% | 14.3% | 5.7% | 21.9% |
| 32 | Chillum | 63.8 | 47.9% | 16.5% | 12.4% | 6.6% | 26.1% |
| 33 | Beltsville | 63.7 | 54.1% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 8.1% | 23.6% |
| 34 | Cockeysville | 62.3 | 52.8% | 18.1% | 12.6% | 5.3% | 24.8% |
| 35 | Fairland | 61.9 | 60.6% | 13.8% | 10.4% | 6.1% | 23.0% |
| 36 | Lexington Park | 59.2 | 51.8% | 25.3% | 13.8% | 4.0% | 22.2% |
| 37 | Halfway | 56.7 | 61.9% | 19.6% | 10.5% | 4.0% | 21.4% |
| 38 | Wheaton | 56.6 | 47.1% | 14.2% | 13.1% | 6.9% | 23.3% |
| 39 | Hillcrest Heights | 56.6 | 47.7% | 17.9% | 10.7% | 7.1% | 22.4% |
| 40 | Towson | 56.3 | 57.5% | 18.8% | 12.1% | 4.8% | 20.9% |
| 41 | Aspen Hill | 56.2 | 57.4% | 13.7% | 9.7% | 7.0% | 20.6% |
| 42 | Woodlawn | 55.2 | 48.7% | 19.7% | 11.6% | 6.1% | 21.7% |
| 43 | Westminster | 55.0 | 56.7% | 20.3% | 10.0% | 5.2% | 20.5% |
| 44 | Largo | 55.0 | 53.0% | 11.8% | 7.2% | 6.7% | 25.3% |
| 45 | Flower Hill | 54.4 | 51.5% | 7.8% | 9.3% | 8.4% | 22.7% |
| 46 | Seabrook | 54.0 | 48.6% | 15.0% | 11.8% | 6.5% | 22.5% |
| 47 | Parkville | 54.0 | 55.8% | 17.6% | 8.6% | 5.0% | 23.1% |
| 48 | Hyattsville | 53.1 | 57.4% | 14.4% | 11.6% | 3.8% | 24.0% |
| 49 | Silver Spring | 52.8 | 52.6% | 15.3% | 10.6% | 5.4% | 23.0% |
| 50 | New Carrollton | 52.3 | 53.8% | 13.4% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 25.7% |
| 51 | Maryland City | 51.4 | 56.3% | 9.0% | 8.9% | 5.5% | 24.8% |
| 52 | Overlea | 50.0 | 51.3% | 21.5% | 9.1% | 5.6% | 19.9% |
| 53 | Carney | 50.0 | 52.5% | 15.9% | 11.0% | 3.2% | 25.7% |
| 54 | Rosedale | 49.0 | 50.0% | 18.3% | 10.1% | 6.4% | 19.3% |
| 55 | Oxon Hill | 46.3 | 52.2% | 15.4% | 6.2% | 5.9% | 22.1% |
| 56 | Glen Burnie | 45.1 | 49.6% | 16.9% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 22.4% |
| 57 | Pikesville | 45.0 | 54.4% | 20.0% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 20.8% |
| 58 | Glenmont | 44.6 | 58.3% | 13.2% | 7.3% | 5.7% | 19.2% |
| 59 | Easton | 44.1 | 50.7% | 24.3% | 11.0% | 3.4% | 19.2% |
| 60 | Kemp Mill | 42.4 | 44.5% | 17.1% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 17.8% |
| 61 | Fort Washington | 41.4 | 56.7% | 7.4% | 5.3% | 5.9% | 22.5% |
| 62 | Ferndale | 41.0 | 42.3% | 13.9% | 8.2% | 5.1% | 25.6% |
| 63 | Frederick | 40.8 | 52.5% | 15.0% | 9.2% | 3.9% | 21.8% |
| 64 | Germantown | 40.3 | 50.1% | 12.3% | 8.8% | 5.6% | 20.8% |
| 65 | Colesville | 38.8 | 82.8% | 7.6% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 17.4% |
| 66 | Gaithersburg | 38.6 | 48.5% | 13.9% | 8.8% | 4.6% | 22.0% |
| 67 | Takoma Park | 38.3 | 53.7% | 19.1% | 9.1% | 4.9% | 15.9% |
| 68 | Lanham | 37.6 | 43.0% | 13.2% | 7.3% | 5.4% | 23.8% |
| 69 | Ballenger Creek | 37.5 | 51.5% | 15.8% | 10.3% | 2.7% | 21.9% |
| 70 | Waldorf | 37.1 | 46.2% | 13.5% | 7.7% | 5.9% | 20.6% |
| 71 | Friendly | 36.9 | 47.7% | 8.8% | 3.0% | 7.7% | 21.7% |
| 72 | Glenn Dale | 36.2 | 72.2% | 5.6% | 2.0% | 6.1% | 15.2% |
| 73 | Laurel | 35.9 | 45.0% | 13.0% | 9.0% | 4.7% | 22.4% |
| 74 | Cloverly | 35.3 | 56.0% | 7.1% | 7.2% | 6.8% | 16.8% |
| 75 | Rockville | 34.4 | 51.6% | 13.3% | 7.6% | 3.9% | 21.2% |
| 76 | Lake Arbor | 34.1 | 49.6% | 8.3% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 24.1% |
| 77 | Owings Mills | 33.2 | 48.8% | 10.7% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 23.0% |
| 78 | Fort Meade | 33.2 | 49.0% | 6.0% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 28.3% |
| 79 | Elkridge | 33.0 | 52.0% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 5.2% | 19.7% |
| 80 | Havre de Grace | 28.6 | 49.7% | 16.2% | 9.0% | 4.2% | 16.1% |
| 81 | Annapolis | 28.2 | 48.9% | 13.4% | 7.8% | 3.7% | 19.6% |
| 82 | Catonsville | 27.6 | 53.5% | 11.6% | 6.9% | 4.0% | 18.1% |
| 83 | Burtonsville | 26.4 | 43.7% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 6.7% | 21.1% |
| 84 | Kettering | 25.2 | 29.1% | 9.4% | 8.7% | 7.3% | 21.7% |
| 85 | Arbutus | 24.6 | 41.0% | 16.2% | 14.0% | 3.8% | 16.0% |
| 86 | Fallston | 24.3 | 75.3% | 6.7% | 4.6% | 0.5% | 17.6% |
| 87 | Timonium | 24.2 | 52.6% | 10.0% | 5.8% | 4.1% | 18.4% |
| 88 | Camp Springs | 23.8 | 39.3% | 10.2% | 7.2% | 4.7% | 22.2% |
| 89 | Parole | 23.5 | 45.0% | 12.1% | 5.7% | 3.0% | 23.0% |
| 90 | Marlton | 23.1 | 46.2% | 10.0% | 5.5% | 3.6% | 22.2% |
| 91 | Redland | 22.8 | 55.6% | 7.1% | 4.4% | 3.4% | 20.2% |
| 92 | Odenton | 22.4 | 53.5% | 9.3% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 21.1% |
| 93 | White Marsh | 22.1 | 41.8% | 14.8% | 9.6% | 2.8% | 20.3% |
| 94 | Rossville | 22.1 | 40.4% | 10.8% | 7.7% | 3.8% | 22.2% |
| 95 | Travilah | 21.7 | 66.1% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 4.3% | 16.8% |
| 96 | Columbia | 21.2 | 44.7% | 11.4% | 7.5% | 4.2% | 18.6% |
| 97 | Clinton | 20.9 | 45.3% | 10.4% | 7.7% | 4.7% | 17.4% |
| 98 | Bowie | 20.6 | 48.9% | 7.6% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 19.7% |
| 99 | Perry Hall | 20.3 | 49.6% | 14.4% | 6.8% | 2.0% | 19.3% |
| 100 | Pasadena | 18.6 | 51.7% | 7.9% | 5.7% | 1.6% | 22.1% |
| 101 | Severn | 18.5 | 45.0% | 7.3% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 19.4% |
| 102 | Brooklyn Park | 18.3 | 34.5% | 14.7% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 18.8% |
| 103 | Green Valley | 18.0 | 53.7% | 4.6% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 21.0% |
| 104 | North Potomac | 16.9 | 52.7% | 8.0% | 5.3% | 4.2% | 15.5% |
| 105 | Damascus | 16.4 | 66.5% | 6.4% | 3.7% | 2.8% | 13.5% |
| 106 | North Bethesda | 16.1 | 42.6% | 9.6% | 5.2% | 3.6% | 20.4% |
| 107 | Clarksburg | 14.9 | 51.2% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 4.4% | 16.9% |
| 108 | Lake Shore | 14.5 | 44.7% | 11.0% | 6.4% | 3.8% | 16.6% |
| 109 | Ilchester | 12.2 | 49.0% | 9.1% | 5.1% | 3.0% | 16.7% |
| 110 | Olney | 12.2 | 48.7% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 16.8% |
| 111 | Ellicott City | 11.6 | 53.5% | 7.8% | 3.7% | 3.0% | 15.8% |
| 112 | Bel Air North | 11.2 | 54.5% | 9.1% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 14.2% |
| 113 | Brock Hall | 10.8 | 37.7% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 6.0% | 20.3% |
| 114 | Honeygo | 9.9 | 42.9% | 10.0% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 20.5% |
| 115 | Joppatowne | 9.3 | 37.2% | 11.5% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 17.6% |
| 116 | Potomac | 8.2 | 46.1% | 9.2% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 14.6% |
| 117 | Arnold | 8.2 | 46.5% | 6.6% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 18.3% |
| 118 | Bel Air South | 8.0 | 40.8% | 10.0% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 17.1% |
| 119 | Mitchellville | 7.6 | 30.9% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 5.5% | 19.7% |
| 120 | Bethesda | 7.6 | 46.1% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 15.4% |
| 121 | North Laurel | 7.2 | 39.1% | 7.9% | 4.7% | 2.2% | 19.8% |
| 122 | California | 6.5 | 32.4% | 11.5% | 6.9% | 2.1% | 19.3% |
| 123 | La Plata | 6.3 | 33.2% | 13.3% | 6.6% | 3.4% | 15.4% |
| 124 | Eldersburg | 5.9 | 43.0% | 9.1% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 14.3% |
| 125 | Crofton | 5.1 | 36.7% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 17.7% |
| 126 | Rosaryville | 4.8 | 25.1% | 8.4% | 3.8% | 5.4% | 17.8% |
| 127 | Brandywine | 4.1 | 14.1% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 21.0% |
| 128 | Linganore | 3.4 | 41.8% | 3.8% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 17.2% |
| 129 | Linthicum | 3.1 | 30.2% | 6.8% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 18.4% |
| 130 | Riviera Beach | 3.1 | 22.0% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 2.8% | 21.0% |
| 131 | Mays Chapel | 2.9 | 27.2% | 10.7% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 16.4% |
| 132 | Annapolis Neck | 1.7 | 37.2% | 7.0% | 3.3% | 0.8% | 17.2% |
| 133 | Westphalia | 1.5 | 15.3% | 6.9% | 6.1% | 5.2% | 16.0% |
| 134 | Severna Park | 1.5 | 38.3% | 7.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 12.0% |
| 135 | Bensville | 1.1 | 13.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 3.9% | 19.2% |
| 136 | Urbana | 0.9 | 25.2% | 3.0% | 1.2% | 3.7% | 17.4% |
| 137 | Scaggsville | 0.9 | 24.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 20.3% |
Score = national percentile (100 = more strain than every other ranked U.S. city). See the national ranking, or personal loans in Maryland.
Download the full dataset (CSV)
Methodology
The Cash Strain Index combines five measures of household financial pressure for every U.S. city with 10,000+ residents that has complete data (4,121 cities; college towns with a median age under 25 are excluded because student households distort income measures): the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, the share of households earning under $35,000, the poverty rate, the unemployment rate, and median annual rent as a percentage of median household income. Each measure is standardized (z-score) across all ranked cities and the five are averaged with equal weight. The score shown is a percentile from 0 to 100, where 100 means more strain than every other ranked city. The national list ranks cities with 100,000+ residents; state lists rank every city with 10,000+ residents.
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B25070, B19001, B17001, B23025, B25064, B19013). ACS estimates carry margins of error, so small differences between neighboring ranks are not meaningful.
Use this data
Journalists, researchers and bloggers may use these rankings and the CSV with credit and a link to this page (“Zebra Finance Cash Strain Index 2026”). Questions or a custom cut for your city: support@zebrafinance.com.