Neighborhood · Essex, MD

Back River Highlands Eviction Risk: Moderate

1 census tracts · pop 3,260 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.9/10 · range 4.9–4.9

Back River Highlands is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Essex with 1 census tract and a population of 3,260 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 4.9/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 16% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 0% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,066/month sits 19% lower than the Essex citywide average ($1,319).

Risk score

4.9

Moderate

1 tracts · population-weighted

Back River Highlands vs Essex How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

16.3% -52%

Essex: 33.8%

Average gross rent

$1,066 -19%

Essex: $1,319

Average HH income

$70,167 +5%

Essex: $67,082

Poverty rate

15.5% +22%

Essex: 12.7%

Renter share

16.4% -58%

Essex: 38.7%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Back River Highlands and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 4.9–4.9

Why Back River Highlands scores 4.9

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

16% of income on rent · Range 7.4–7.4 across tracts

7.4

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.6–5.6 across tracts

5.6

Tenant organizing strength

16% renter households · Range 8.4–8.4 across tracts

8.4

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 6.8–6.8 across tracts

6.8

Economic stress

15.5% below poverty line · Range 3.9–3.9 across tracts

3.9

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 1.0–1.0 across tracts

1.0

Risk score comparison

Back River Highlands vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in Back River Highlands

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

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
24005450200	4.9	3,260	16%	$1,066

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 35

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

Socioeconomic status 54%ile

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

Household characteristics 73%ile

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

Racial/ethnic minority 23%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 9%ile

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

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Back River Highlands

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

13.3%Housing insecurity
8.1%Utility shutoff threat
15.9%Food insecurity
12.5%SNAP enrollment
9.3%No health insurance
29.7%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Back River Highlands

What is the eviction-risk score for Back River Highlands?

Back River Highlands scores 4.9/10 (Moderate 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 Back River Highlands compare to Essex overall?

Back River Highlands scores 1.5 points lower than Essex overall (6.4/10). Renters spend 16% of income on rent vs 34% citywide. Average rent: $1,066 vs $1,319.

What is the average rent in Back River Highlands?

Average gross rent in Back River Highlands is $1,066/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 16% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Back River Highlands residents are renters?

16% of Back River Highlands households are renter-occupied (vs 39% in Essex). The neighborhood has 3,260 residents.

Is Back River Highlands a high social-vulnerability area?

Back River Highlands sits in the 35th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is Back River Highlands for landlords?

Back River Highlands carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.9/10). 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 Essex as a whole (6.4/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Back River Highlands?

Back River Highlands has 3,298 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (77.9%), Black (non-Hispanic) (8.9%), Hispanic / Latino (8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Back River Highlands

2.9 Kenwood 4 tracts · pop 13,465 5.1 Glenmar Manor 2 tracts · pop 7,230 5.3 Battle Grove 2 tracts · pop 7,814 5.2 Gray Haven 2 tracts · pop 3,580 4.9 Eastfield 2 tracts · pop 6,182 5.4 Chesterwood 2 tracts · pop 10,734

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Essex

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Back River Highlands.

4.8 Marine Oak Village 1 tracts · pop 4,458 4.7 Essexshire Gate 1 tracts · pop 3,869 4.4 Middlesex 1 tracts · pop 3,815 5.5 Hartland Village 1 tracts · pop 6,246 4.3 Valecrest 1 tracts · pop 3,383 5.7 Fox Ridge Manor 1 tracts · pop 6,102

Zoom out