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As we step into 2026, the landscape for women in the workforce continues to evolve, yet significant challenges persist. Issues like wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and uneven access to resources remain prevalent. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for women navigating their careers in the United States, particularly in Maryland.
To shed light on the conditions for women, we analyzed cities across Maryland to identify those that pose the greatest challenges for women in the workforce. The findings reveal significant disparities based on location.
Continue reading to discover which cities rank as the most challenging for women in Maryland and the criteria we used for our analysis.
The 10 Worst Cities For Women In Maryland
These are the 10 worst cities for women in Maryland. Read on to understand the factors contributing to these rankings or skip ahead to discover the best cities for women in Maryland.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Maryland
We evaluated each city across four key categories:
- Percentage Of Women In Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage Of Women In Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Women’s Earnings Compared To Men’s Earnings (Lower is worse)
- Percentage Of Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To ascertain the income gap between women and men by city, we utilized data from the Census American Community Survey. This involved calculating median male income divided by median female income to determine how much women earn per male dollar.
For the poverty statistics, we referenced the ACS, focusing on women living without relatives, as this demographic tends to experience higher poverty rates.
The representation of women in management positions was sourced from the ACS, providing insight into women’s leadership opportunities within each community.
Finally, we again referred to the ACS for statistics on the percentage of uninsured women in each city.
This analysis included only cities in Maryland with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Lexington Park
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.52
Women In Management: 28.2%
Women In Poverty: 17.0%
Uninsured Women: 7.7%
Lexington Park ranks as the most challenging city for women in Maryland, marked by low management representation and high poverty and uninsured rates. The statistics reveal significant barriers for women striving for financial independence.
2. Langley Park
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.76
Women In Management: 15.8%
Women In Poverty: 25.9%
Uninsured Women: 34.5%
Langley Park follows closely behind, with alarming statistics on poverty and limited leadership representation for women.
3. Baltimore Highlands
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.71
Women In Management: 35.9%
Women In Poverty: 22.5%
Uninsured Women: 11.0%
In Baltimore Highlands, women face considerable challenges, with a significant percentage living in poverty and limited access to management roles.
4. East Riverdale
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.84
Women In Management: 23.9%
Women In Poverty: 16.9%
Uninsured Women: 19.9%
East Riverdale ranks fourth, with notable uninsured rates among women and a substantial number living in poverty.
5. Chillum
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.83
Women In Management: 33.0%
Women In Poverty: 14.6%
Uninsured Women: 20.6%
Chillum ranks fifth, where women experience some opportunities, but still face significant disparities in earnings and management roles.
6. Cambridge
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.68
Women In Management: 37.3%
Women In Poverty: 25.4%
Uninsured Women: 5.3%
At sixth place, Cambridge has a relatively higher percentage of women in management, yet many still face poverty challenges.
7. Adelphi
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.84
Women In Management: 28.0%
Women In Poverty: 13.4%
Uninsured Women: 18.5%
Adelphi presents significant challenges for women, with high poverty rates and low management representation.
8. Aspen Hill
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.75
Women In Management: 38.9%
Women In Poverty: 12.6%
Uninsured Women: 12.0%
Aspen Hill ranks eighth, with a moderate percentage of women in management, but still faces challenges related to poverty and earnings.
9. Chesapeake Ranch Estates
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.65
Women In Management: 21.0%
Women In Poverty: 7.9%
Uninsured Women: 7.1%
Chesapeake Ranch Estates ranks ninth, where women struggle with lower earnings and representation in management.
10. California
Women’s Earnings For Every Male Dollar: $0.55
Women In Management: 45.2%
Women In Poverty: 13.9%
Uninsured Women: 7.1%
California ranks tenth, showing better management representation but still grappling with poverty issues for women.
Summary Of The Worst Cities For Women In Maryland
The cities highlighted here represent the most challenging environments for women in Maryland. While women face numerous hurdles throughout the state, these cities pose greater obstacles than most.
Although no city is universally the worst for every individual woman, the statistics reveal that those living in these areas may encounter unique challenges related to their careers and overall well-being.
Explore the complete list below to gain further insights.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Maryland
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
