Up to 40% of Baltimoreans struggle with basic expenses, Hopkins survey finds

As utility bills and housing costs climb nationwide, Baltimoreans are struggling to afford everyday expenses, according to a Johns Hopkins survey published Wednesday.

Between 30 and 40% of Baltimore area residents said they have recently found it difficult to afford food, housing, utility, medical and transportation expenses, according to the new report from the Johns Hopkins 21st Century Cities Initiative.

“A combination of inflation being higher and concerns about the job market is leading to a lot of people not knowing what’s coming,” said Michael Bader, director of the Hopkins initiative and associate professor of sociology at the university. “It’s leading to insecurity and uncertainty.”

Between August and October 2025, researchers surveyed more than 1,200 residents of Baltimore City and Baltimore County online or by mail. They answered questions about their expenses over the past 12 months.

Some of what they found surprised Bader.

While poor residents and families with children are especially feeling the pinch, costs are creating stress for people across the income spectrum, he said.

Additionally, people often worried about costs in multiple categories, Bader said. Among those who responded, 4 in 10 people said they were concerned about all five areas measured by the survey.

Affordability has become a “political buzzword” recently, said Bader, but “it’s easy to get caught up in politics and forget just how many people experience hardship.”

Since 2012, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s gas rates have more than tripled and electric rates have nearly doubled, with more hikes on the way. Rising utility costs have been a sore spot politically, as well as for residents’ pocketbooks.

More than a third of residents reported falling behind on at least one utility bill. For households with children, that percentage was more than half. But even some of those who made $110,000 a year or more missed utility payments, Bader said.

About 2 in 5 residents overall said they struggled to afford food. As much as 90% of people who made under $30,000 a year said they were concerned about food, as well as 30% of those making $110,000.

In Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood, demand for free hot meals has steadily climbed in recent months, said Sue May, who began feeding people on the streets through her nonprofit Love & Cornbread in 2020.

New faces have been showing up in line, she said, including more women with toddlers and people who would not look out of place at Sunday church service.

Medical, housing and transportation costs were also major concerns. More than a third of people reported difficulties paying for medical expenses. Nearly 60% of residents expressed concern about housing costs over the next year, while 30% had problems with transportation.

People tended to struggle more with housing and transportation in the city, as compared to the county, according to the report.

Bader said his group hopes to continue to track how costs are affecting Baltimore-area residents in future surveys.