Poverty Levels and Median Income for Mid-Shore Counties
This interactive dashboard provides a clear visualization of poverty levels and median household income across Maryland’s Mid-Shore counties—Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot—using time series data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2004–2023). The dashboard enables users to explore how economic well-being has evolved in the region over the past two decades.
Each county’s data is represented through color-coded line charts, allowing users to compare trends in:
- Poverty Rates (as a percentage of the population)
- Median Household Incomes (adjusted to current dollars)
For example, in 2023, Dorchester County reported the highest poverty rate at 16.3%, while Talbot County maintained the lowest at 10.2%. In terms of income, Talbot County continues to lead with a median household income of $84K, compared to $66K in Caroline and $60K in Dorchester.
The dashboard’s intuitive layout helps researchers, policymakers, and community organizations assess long-term economic trends, target disparities, and support equitable planning across the Mid-Shore region.
Key Features:
- Time series comparison from 2004 to 2023
- County-level insights (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot)
- Dual indicators: poverty rates and median income
This resource is part of a series of dashboards developed to support the Mid-Shore Online CEDS.
Data
- Sources:
- U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
- Geography: County
- Data Freshness: Data is refreshed annually to reflect the most current information from the source.
Partners
This dashboard was developed by the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) with support from the Mid-Shore Regional Council (MSRC).