2 census tracts · pop 8,336 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.2/10
· range 3.3–6.1
Defense Heights is a black-hispanic neighborhood in Bladensburg with 2 census tracts and a population of 8,336 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 50% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 22% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,709/month sits 3% higher than the Bladensburg citywide average ($1,656).
Risk score
5.2
Moderate
2 tracts · population-weighted
Defense Heights vs BladensburgHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority97%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport73%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in Defense Heights
Aggregated across 2 validated constituent tracts. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Historic baseline (2000–2018)
12,021Total filings (sum)
107.94%Avg annual filing rate
148.9%Peak year (2016)
104.06%Latest filed (2016)
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.
26.5%Housing insecurity
15.9%Utility shutoff threat
31.1%Food insecurity
23.5%SNAP enrollment
18.8%No health insurance
30.7%Any disability
Frequently asked
About Defense Heights
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Defense Heights?
Defense Heights scores 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) across 2 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.
Q2
How does Defense Heights compare to Bladensburg overall?
Defense Heights scores 1.8 points lower than Bladensburg overall (7/10). Renters spend 50% of income on rent vs 37% citywide. Average rent: $1,709 vs $1,656.
Q3
What is the average rent in Defense Heights?
Average gross rent in Defense Heights is $1,709/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Defense Heights residents are renters?
67% of Defense Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 79% in Bladensburg). The neighborhood has 8,336 residents.
Q5
Is Defense Heights a high social-vulnerability area?
Defense Heights sits in the 92nd 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.
Q6
Which tracts in Defense Heights have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in Defense Heights is census tract 24033804001 (score 6.1/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 3.3 to 6.1, a spread of 2.8 points.
Q7
How safe is Defense Heights for landlords?
Defense Heights carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.2/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Bladensburg as a whole (7/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of Defense Heights?
Defense Heights has 7,913 residents (Black-Hispanic Neighborhood). Top groups: Black (non-Hispanic) (58.1%), Hispanic / Latino (34.6%), White (non-Hispanic) (3.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
