Population 32,098 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Caroline County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Caroline County
Household size in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Caroline County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northeast. Caroline County has larger households than at least four in five Virginia counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Caroline County are younger than 39.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 38.9, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Caroline County: 14.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 2.6 points, even as the national share fell. Caroline County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Virginia counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Caroline County
Renters in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Caroline County is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a quarter of owners (27.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.6 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Caroline County: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Caroline County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Virginia counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Caroline County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1988 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $982 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,103 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,161 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,417 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$435 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Caroline County runs $1,417 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $435 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Caroline County
Bachelor's degrees in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Caroline County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.2% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.6% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.1% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Caroline County have finished high school as nationally: 89.2%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Virginia as a whole (91.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.1 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Caroline County
| Period | Caroline County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Caroline County is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Caroline County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | 2.66 | 39.7 | 14.9% | 17.7% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,417 | 21.6% | 89.2% | 4.8% |
| Louisa County | 2.60 | 44.9 | 10.1% | 17.8% | 14.8% | 1995 | $1,329 | 29.6% | 90.0% | 5.7% |
| Essex County | 2.35 | 47.9 | 7.8% | 28.3% | 21.8% | 1980 | $1,056 | 16.8% | 84.3% | 3.5% |
| Westmoreland County | 2.35 | 48.9 | 15.8% | 19.9% | 25.0% | 1985 | $1,163 | 22.8% | 87.7% | 5.9% |
| Richmond County | 2.38 | 44.1 | 9.2% | 25.3% | 16.4% | 1979 | $1,038 | 16.4% | 81.6% | 2.0% |
| Charlottesville City | 2.17 | 34.7 | 9.4% | 55.8% | 9.4% | 1971 | $1,595 | 62.5% | 93.4% | 4.0% |
| Albemarle County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 9.7% | 34.1% | 7.7% | 1991 | $1,734 | 61.3% | 94.0% | 3.3% |
| Waynesboro City | 2.32 | 38.8 | 13.0% | 40.1% | 8.3% | 1973 | $1,105 | 26.4% | 89.5% | 4.9% |
| Augusta County | 2.46 | 44.5 | 9.0% | 19.8% | 7.2% | 1987 | $1,131 | 25.1% | 91.8% | 2.4% |
| Staunton City | 2.17 | 41.6 | 12.0% | 39.1% | 10.0% | 1963 | $1,005 | 37.7% | 94.1% | 5.1% |
| Somerset County | 2.38 | 39.7 | 11.5% | 26.9% | 22.0% | 1980 | $1,056 | 20.5% | 87.7% | 10.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Randolph County, MO · Pine County, MN · Plaquemines Parish, LA · Grenada County, MS · Poinsett County, AR · Polk County, MO · Pontotoc County, OK · Posey County, IN · Prince Edward County, VA · Putnam County, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Caroline County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.