The Area Median Income (AMI) is a common measurement. The “median” refers not to an average, but to a point where half of the data points are above and half below. For instance, the median household income for a single person in Frederick County in 2025 is $62,515. Someone working full-time at a minimum-wage job ($15/hr) might make approximately $31,200, about half of the AMI.
The Frederick Housing Solutions Task Force is particularly concerned with increasing housing options for those whose income falls in that “Lower third” column below. This includes those on fixed incomes or disability (SSI or SSDI), as well as many single parents.
Many financial planners advise that rent (or a mortgage) account for no more than 30% of gross income. Landlords often also use this percentage to evaluate someone’s financial suitability.
The following figures are taken from the Neilsberg research page for Frederick County, MD–updated in March of 2025. Can you imagine trying to find housing in our area with resources like this?
| Household Size | Median Household Income | Lower third | 30% of Income | Expected Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $62,517 | $18,755 | $5,627 | $469 |
| 2 people | $123,976 | $37,193 | $11,158 | $930 |
| 3 people | $143,479 | $43,044 | $12,913 | $1,076 |
| 4 people | $165,385 | $49,616 | $14,855 | $1,240 |
| 5 people | $173,458 | $52,037 | $15,611 | $1,301 |
| 6 people | $150,977 | $45,293 | $13,588 | $1,132 |
| 7 or more people | $166,451 | $49,935 | $14,981 | $1,248 |
Also according to Neilsberg, approximately 22% of all households in Frederick County have total annual incomes below $60,000. Another 7.4% are between $60,000 and $74,999. If you take an average of 2.71 people per household (per US Census) and Neilsberg’s count of 101,807 households, that means at least 60,000 people in Frederick County are represented by the “Lower third” figures in the above table. More information on this page.