Maryland Cities With the Highest Poverty Rates

Census data shows Western Maryland communities facing the greatest economic strain

While national poverty rates have declined in recent years, many Maryland communities continue to struggle with rising living costs and stagnant wages.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 37 million Americans live below the federal poverty line. However, many economists argue the government’s poverty formula is outdated, relying on cost estimates from decades ago and failing to fully account for today’s expenses like housing, child care, transportation, health care, and taxes.

When examined locally, poverty varies dramatically from city to city.

Here are the five Maryland cities with the highest percentage of residents living below the poverty line, ranked from #5 down to #1:

#5 – Cambridge

• Poverty rate: 21.3%

• Residents below poverty line: 2,557

• Employed but still in poverty: 432

• Children under 18 in poverty: 32.7%

• Median household income: $43,120

Nearly one in three children in Cambridge live in households facing financial hardship.

#4 – College Park

• Poverty rate: 26.7%

• Residents below poverty line: 5,627

• Employed but still in poverty: 2,251

• Children under 18 in poverty: 17.6%

• Median household income: $66,679

Despite a higher median income overall, a significant portion of residents still fall below the poverty threshold.

#3 – Salisbury

• Poverty rate: 24.7%

• Residents below poverty line: 7,798

• Employed but still in poverty: 2,547

• Children under 18 in poverty: 27.7%

• Median household income: $41,905

Salisbury reports a large number of working residents who remain below the poverty line — highlighting the rise of the “working poor.”

#2 – Hagerstown

• Poverty rate: 25.7%

• Residents below poverty line: 10,116

• Employed but still in poverty: 2,241

• Children under 18 in poverty: 37.2%

• Median household income: $40,800

More than one-third of children in Hagerstown are growing up in poverty — one of the highest youth hardship rates in the state.

#1 – Cumberland

• Poverty rate: 23.5%

• Residents below poverty line: 4,377

• Employed but still in poverty: 842

• Children under 18 in poverty: 34.9%

• Median household income: $36,145

Cumberland ranks at the top of the list, with nearly one in four residents living below the poverty line and more than a third of local children facing economic challenges. The data underscores the continued financial pressures on working families across Western Maryland.

The bottom line

Statistics only tell part of the story. Behind every number are real families balancing rent, groceries, utilities, and medical bills. For many communities — especially Cumberland — the struggle isn’t just seasonal or temporary. It’s daily life.

Understanding the scope is the first step toward building real solutions.