The 10 Poorest Cities In Maryland For 2026

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$47,323 median income · 26.4% poverty · #1 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Dorchester County, Maryland

Median income -54% vs MD

$47,323

MD $104k

Poverty rate +181% vs MD

26.4%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +78% vs MD

8.7%

MD 4.9%

Cambridge, unfortunately, ranks as the poorest place in Maryland thanks to combination of low pay and and a lack of jobs.

The city of 13,152 people averages the lowest median household income in Maryland and the 3rd highest poverty rate. At the very least, the cost of living ranks in the bottom 15% of place in the state, so things like housing are relatively affordable.

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Source: Wikipedia User 0915426A | CC BY-SA 4.0

$48,162 median income · 25.1% poverty · #2 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Allegany County, Maryland

Median income -54% vs MD

$48,162

MD $104k

Poverty rate +167% vs MD

25.1%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +29% vs MD

6.3%

MD 4.9%

The second poorest city in Maryland is Cumberland.

The city ranks as having the 4th highest incidence of poverty and 2nd lowest median household income. However, the unemployment rate ‘only’ ranks as the 12th highest in the Old Line State.

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Source: Wikipedia User Lee Cannon from Bayville aka West Fenwick, DE, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0

$52,977 median income · 28.8% poverty · #4 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Allegany County, Maryland

Median income -49% vs MD

$52,977

MD $104k

Poverty rate +206% vs MD

28.8%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +37% vs MD

6.7%

MD 4.9%

Placing as the third poorest city, Frostburg’s median income ranks as the 4th lowest.

And that’s a sign that there’s a relatively substantial jump in the quality of the economy from second to third place on our list. The poverty rate is 28.8% and ranks near the bottom of places in the state.

But what makes up for the relatively low incomes of the city is its low cost of living. The income you do make here goes further than in most parts of the Old Line State.

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Source: Public domain

$52,221 median income · 21.9% poverty · #3 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Washington County, Maryland

Median income -50% vs MD

$52,221

MD $104k

Poverty rate +133% vs MD

21.9%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +47% vs MD

7.2%

MD 4.9%

Hagerstown ranks as the fourth poorest place in Maryland.

The town ranks as having the 3rd lowest median household income and the 6th highest incidence of poverty in the state.

That being said, there’s still a ton of cultural diversity in the city as it hosts many events throughout the year.

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Source: Wikipedia User Eric Fischer | CC BY 2.0

$58,576 median income · 24.3% poverty · #6 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Wicomico County, Maryland

Median income -44% vs MD

$58,576

MD $104k

Poverty rate +159% vs MD

24.3%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +80% vs MD

8.8%

MD 4.9%

The fifth poorest city in Maryland is Salisbury.

The city ranks as having the 6th lowest median income in the state. However, an extremely low cost of living prevents a good number of folks from living in poverty as the poverty rate only ranks as the 5th highest in Maryland.

Still not the best news for Salisbury.

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Source: Wikipedia User User:Tomf688 | CC BY-SA 2.5

$69,721 median income · 33.2% poverty · #12 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Median income -33% vs MD

$69,721

MD $104k

Poverty rate +253% vs MD

33.2%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +45% vs MD

7.1%

MD 4.9%

College Park ranks as the sixth poorest place in the Old Line State.

It ranks as having the highest incidence of poverty and the 6th highest unemployment rate.

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Source: Public domain

$58,640 median income · 20.1% poverty · #7 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Cecil County, Maryland

Median income -43% vs MD

$58,640

MD $104k

Poverty rate +114% vs MD

20.1%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +41% vs MD

6.9%

MD 4.9%

Elkton places as the seventh poorest city in Maryland.

The city of over 15,910 ranks as having the 8th highest incidence of poverty in the state. However, it has a very low cost of living which helps to pay the bills each month.

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Source: Public domain

$63,179 median income · 21.7% poverty · #9 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Median income -39% vs MD

$63,179

MD $104k

Poverty rate +131% vs MD

21.7%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +96% vs MD

9.6%

MD 4.9%

Bladensburg ranks as the eighth poorest city in Maryland.

The big issue for the town is the unemployment rate which ranks as one of the highest in the state.

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Source: Public domain

$62,177 median income · 19.7% poverty · #8 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Baltimore city, Maryland

Median income -40% vs MD

$62,177

MD $104k

Poverty rate +110% vs MD

19.7%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment +33% vs MD

6.5%

MD 4.9%

Baltimore couldn’t stay out of the top ten poorest places in Maryland; it ranks number 9.

While the median income is the 8th lowest, there are a substantial number of people that live below the poverty line. Overall, Baltimore ranks as having the 10th most people living in poverty of all the places we analyzed in Maryland.

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Source: Wikipedia User User:Fbot | GFDL

$64,004 median income · 19.9% poverty · #10 lowest income in Maryland

Located in Wicomico County, Maryland

Median income -38% vs MD

$64,004

MD $104k

Poverty rate +112% vs MD

19.9%

MD 9.4%

Unemployment -29% vs MD

3.5%

MD 4.9%

And rounding out the top ten poorest cities in Maryland is Fruitland.

The city of 5,801 people ranks in the bottom 20% for both median income and poverty rate in the Old Line State.

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