Neighborhood · Dundalk, MD

Defense Heights Eviction Risk: Elevated

1 census tracts · pop 2,803 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 6.7/10 · range 6.7–6.7

Defense Heights is a white-hispanic neighborhood in Dundalk with 1 census tract and a population of 2,803 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 6.7/10 (Elevated tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 85% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 65% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,289/month sits 12% lower than the Dundalk citywide average ($1,473).

Risk score

6.7

Elevated

1 tracts · population-weighted

Defense Heights vs Dundalk How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

85.1% +137%

Dundalk: 35.9%

Average gross rent

$1,289 -12%

Dundalk: $1,473

Average HH income

$44,030 -29%

Dundalk: $62,349

Poverty rate

37.4% +94%

Dundalk: 19.3%

Renter share

43.7% +23%

Dundalk: 35.4%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Defense Heights and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 6.7–6.7

Why Defense Heights scores 6.7

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 5.7–5.7 across tracts

5.7

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 6.4–6.4 across tracts

6.4

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 8.9–8.9 across tracts

8.9

Rent control risk

85% of income on rent · Range 8.4–8.4 across tracts

8.4

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.2–5.2 across tracts

5.2

Tenant organizing strength

44% renter households · Range 7.6–7.6 across tracts

7.6

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 8.1–8.1 across tracts

8.1

Economic stress

37.4% below poverty line · Range 9.4–9.4 across tracts

9.4

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 1.6–1.6 across tracts

1.6

Risk score comparison

Defense Heights vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in Defense Heights

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
24005452300	6.7	2,803	85%	$1,289

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 78

Pop-weighted across 1 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 83%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 96%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 63%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 28%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Defense Heights

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

25.5%Housing insecurity
16.4%Utility shutoff threat
34.1%Food insecurity
30.7%SNAP enrollment
21.0%No health insurance
37.7%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Defense Heights

What is the eviction-risk score for Defense Heights?

Defense Heights scores 6.7/10 (Elevated tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Defense Heights compare to Dundalk overall?

Defense Heights scores 0.2 points higher than Dundalk overall (6.5/10). Renters spend 85% of income on rent vs 36% citywide. Average rent: $1,289 vs $1,473.

What is the average rent in Defense Heights?

Average gross rent in Defense Heights is $1,289/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 85% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Defense Heights residents are renters?

44% of Defense Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 35% in Dundalk). The neighborhood has 2,803 residents.

Is Defense Heights a high social-vulnerability area?

Defense Heights sits in the 78th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is Defense Heights for landlords?

Defense Heights carries a elevated-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (6.7/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Dundalk as a whole (6.5/10), this neighborhood is in line with the citywide level.

What is the demographic breakdown of Defense Heights?

Defense Heights has 3,029 residents (White-Hispanic Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (46.2%), Hispanic / Latino (32%), Black (non-Hispanic) (19.1%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Defense Heights

2.9 Kenwood 4 tracts · pop 13,465 4.9 Eastfield 2 tracts · pop 6,182 5.2 Gray Haven 2 tracts · pop 3,580 6.6 Saint Helena 2 tracts · pop 5,840 5.3 Battle Grove 2 tracts · pop 7,814 5.4 Chesterwood 2 tracts · pop 10,734

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Dundalk

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Defense Heights.

6.5 Saint Helena 2 tracts · pop 5,840 6.3 Sparrows Point 1 tracts · pop 3,002 6.3 Manchester 1 tracts · pop 3,227 5.9 Turner Station 1 tracts · pop 2,621 5.8 Chesterwood 2 tracts · pop 10,734 5.7 Eastpoint 1 tracts · pop 4,704

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