[Greater Baltimore]

Baltimore County

Fast Facts:

  • Baltimore County was home to 844,703 people and had 350,620 housing units in 2023. Since 2010, Baltimore County has added an average of 3,000 people and 1,100 housing units per year.
  • Thirty-four percent of households were renters and 52 percent of renters had unaffordable housing costs.
  • Baltimore County built 562 units in 2024; an estimated 1,554 units are needed annually to meet future housing demand. Cumulatively, Baltimore County has produced at least 1,945 units since 2022.
  • Baltimore County committed to creating 1,000 new affordable rental housing units through new construction or rehabilitation by 2027 (PDF).
Sources: Census Population and Housing Unit Estimates, Decennial Census, American Community Survey (2019-23), and the HIT survey of local jurisdictions.
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Baltimore County
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Policy Status

Solving the region's affordable housing crisis requires a portfolio of policies to preserve existing affordable housing, produce more housing, and protect people from discrimination and displacement.

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Right of First Refusal

  • Baltimore County

Preservation Inventory - Subsidized

  • Baltimore County

Preservation Inventory - Unsubsidized

  • Baltimore County

Rental Assistance Demonstration

  • Baltimore County

Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Homeowners

  • Baltimore County

Energy Efficiency Upgrades of Affordable Housing

  • Baltimore County

Housing Outcomes

Local jurisdictions submitted data to enable the region to track housing production, preservation, and rental affordability.

Amount of Housing

Number of units built by type

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,000Units696501516Baltimore County202220232024
Multifamily
Single-family

Note: The City of Baltimore did not report total units built in 2023.

Affordability of Housing

Share of units affordable to households with low incomes

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty0%12%15%
2022
2023
2024

Note: The City of Baltimore did not report total units built in 2023.

Housing Cost: Lowest

Units built affordable to households with incomes 0-29.9% of area median

0100200300400500Units BaltimoreCounty00
2022
2023
2024

Housing Cost: Low

Units built affordable to households with incomes 30-49.9% of area median

02004006008001,000Units BaltimoreCounty00
2022
2023
2024

Housing Cost: Low-Middle

Units built affordable to households with incomes 50-79.9% of area median

02004006008001,000Units BaltimoreCounty08464
2022
2023
2024

Building Permits for New Construction

Number of units permitted by type

01,0002,0003,0004,000Units4711,203Baltimore County20232024
Multifamily
Single-family

Affordable Housing in Development

Number of units

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Units2540Baltimore County202220232024
In the pipeline
Under construction

Affordable Housing Preservation

Number of units preserved as committed affordable by type

05001,0001,5002,000Units0000488Baltimore County202220232024
Units with existing subsidies
Units previously unsubsidized

Structural Racism

Discriminatory actions and racist public policies have produced inequitable outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the Washington region, including lower incomes and wealth, lower homeownership rates, and higher rates of housing cost burden.

Income

Average household income by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

$0$50,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$ BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity$135,700$96,500$111,500$102,500$134,700
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homeownership

Homeownership rate by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity67%48%51%53%77%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations by race and ethnicity, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity4%26%10%11%50%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous or Multiple race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. For mortgages with an applicant and a co-applicant, if they identify the same way they are captured in that category, otherwise if they have different identities they would be included in the Indigenous or Multiple race category.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Credit Denials

Ratio of denial rates for mortgages between white borrowers and borrowers of color, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

00.20.40.60.81Ratio BaltimoreCounty0.486

Note: If White borrowers and borrowers of Color were denied mortgages at the same rate we would expect to see a ratio equal to 1. Values under 1 indicate that borrowers of Color have higher denial rates than White borrowers.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Rental Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity39%53%47%49%48%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white. Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Owner Housing Cost Burden

Owner households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in housing costs, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity21%24%25%28%18%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white. Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Housing Context

Understanding how household incomes relate to the supply of affordable rental and homeownership units will inform jurisdictions' efforts to meet the current and future housing needs of residents.

Household Income

Distribution of households by income level relative to the area median income, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty14%12%17%22%22%13%
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Household Income

Change in households by income level relative to the area median income, 2008-12 to 2019-23

-15,000-10,000-5,00005,00010,000Households BaltimoreCountyIncome level5,500-2,010-3,6401,2206,4407,710
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Incomes are in 2023 dollars. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty10%35%43%8%
$0-$899
$900-$1,499
$1,500-$2,299
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$3,299
$3,300 and higher

Note: Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Change in renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2008-12 to 2019-23

-10,000-5,00005,00010,00015,000Change in Units BaltimoreCountyRent level-1,740-13,81014,6203,900830800
$0-$899
$900-$1,499
$1,500-$2,299
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$3,299
$3,300 and higher

Note: Costs are in 2023 dollars. Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty52%

Note: Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Deeply Affordable Units

Estimated number of public housing units and vouchers relative to renter households with incomes below 30% of area median, 2019-23

020406080100Per 100 households BaltimoreCounty22

Note: Estimated number of units and vouchers is for 2024. Vouchers include federally-funded Housing Choice Vouchers and locally-funded vouchers where information was available. Income is for 2019-23 and based on the 2023 HUD Income Limits by family size.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS); HUD Picture of Subsidized Households 2024; and HUD HCVP Power BI Dashboard

Need for Accessible Units

Number of households with one or more people with a disability by income level relative to the area median, 2019-23

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,000Households BaltimoreCountyIncome level14,1707,9408,0107,9206,9803,270
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023. People will a disability includes those with cognitive disabilities, physical or self-care disabilities, ambulatory disabilities, independent living difficulties, vision disabilities, or hearing disabilities.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Homeowner Housing Supply by Cost

Owner housing units by monthly housing cost for a first-time homebuyer, 2019-23

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty18%27%14%15%6%21%
$0-$1,499
$1,500-$2,299
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$3,299
$3,300-$3,799
$3,800 and higher

Note: Costs for owner housing were calculated as the monthly payment for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 90 percent of the market value to the unit, along with estimates of other monthly costs including mortgage insurance, taxes, utilities, and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Affordable Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations to households with moderate incomes and below, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent BaltimoreCounty44%26%
0-80% of area median
80-120% of area median income

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Potential Homebuyers

Number of potential homebuyers with low or moderate incomes by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

For renter households with a head of household age 45 years or younger and incomes between 50-120% of AMI

05,00010,00015,00020,000Households BaltimoreCountyRace and ethnicity1,40011,5002,4001,1008,100
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023. Renter households with a head of household under age 22 were excluded.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Elected Officials

  1. Katherine A. Klausmeier

    Katherine A. Klausmeier

    County Executive

  2. Todd K. Crandell

    Todd K. Crandell

    Council Member - District 7

  3. Mike Ertel

    Mike Ertel

    Council Member - District 6

  4. David Marks

    David Marks

    Council Member - District 5

  5. Julian E. Jones, Jr.

    Julian E. Jones, Jr.

    Council Member - District 4

  6. Wade Kach

    Wade Kach

    Council Member - District 3

  7. Israel Patoka

    Israel Patoka

    Council Member - District 2

  8. Pat Young

    Pat Young

    Council Member - District 1

Equity Officer

  1. Sevetra Peoples-Brown

    Sevetra Peoples-Brown

    Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Housing Official

  1. Terry Hickey

    Terry Hickey

    Director, Department of Housing and Community Development