1st Advantage Mortgage31% of Caroline County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $68,457 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Caroline County
- Jobs and commutes in Caroline County
- Where Caroline County differs from the rest of Maryland
- Rent, home values and ownership in Caroline County
- What Caroline County households earn
- Caroline County and the counties next door
- Places inside Caroline County
- Reading the Caroline County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Caroline County, in numbers
- Budget math at the Caroline County median
- Maryland lender licensing
- Before you sign
- More guides for Caroline County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Caroline County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Caroline County's population at 33,669; only 19 of Maryland's 24 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 319 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 105 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (10 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Denton, with about 4,936 residents, or 15% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Caroline County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 14%. Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. 5.7% of Caroline County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 28%; under 15 minutes: 19%. Households without a car make up 5.5% of the total (8.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Caroline County share | +/- vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.8% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | -7.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% | +2.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Caroline County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Where Caroline County differs from the rest of Maryland
The 3 Caroline County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Maryland, and what each means for a borrower:
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 16% in Caroline County, the lowest of 24 in Maryland. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- Few Maryland counties match Caroline County on the share of workers who work from home: 6.9% here, 19.3% for the state, ranking the lowest of 24. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- On the uninsured rate, Caroline County sits near the top of Maryland at 7.3%, 2nd highest of 24. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
Rent, home values and ownership in Caroline County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,105 in Caroline County versus $1,705 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 56% in Caroline County, 51% statewide. With a median value of $290,100, a typical Caroline County house costs 4.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Caroline County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Cost | Caroline County | Maryland figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 34% | 27% | +7.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 51% | +4.3 pts |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | +4.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,105/mo | $1,705/mo | 35% lower |
| Median home value | $290,100 | $419,900 | 31% lower |
With rent burdens at 56%, keep any Caroline County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
What Caroline County households earn
Half of Caroline County households take in less than $68,457 a year and half take in more, 34% below the Maryland median of $103,678. That places it 19th among Maryland's 24 county-level areas.
| Band | Caroline County | Compared with Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +12.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -13.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Caroline County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Caroline County counts about 4,095 residents below the poverty line, 12.2% of the population. Gini index for Caroline County: 0.425. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Caroline County median.
Caroline County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 18 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Queen Anne's County, $112,826. Poorest: Dorchester County, $61,839. Caroline County: $68,457. Some neighbors are in Delaware. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Caroline County resident follows Maryland rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | - | $68,457 | $1,105/mo | 72% |
| Queen Anne's County, MD | 18 mi | $112,826 | $1,619/mo | 83% |
| Talbot County, MD | 21 mi | $84,811 | $1,256/mo | 75% |
| Kent County, DE | 24 mi | $74,477 | $1,354/mo | 73% |
| Sussex County, DE | 30 mi | $81,497 | $1,238/mo | 82% |
| Kent County, MD | 30 mi | $80,147 | $1,209/mo | 73% |
| Dorchester County, MD | 33 mi | $61,839 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
Places inside Caroline County
Places, by size: the top 13 of 13. Roughly 57% of Caroline County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Preston ($100,000) and Federalsburg ($33,571) mark the top and bottom of Caroline County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Ridgely ($633) and steepest in Preston ($1,629). This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton | town | 4,936 | $66,510 | $1,043 | 1 mi |
| Federalsburg | town | 2,837 | $33,571 | $1,017 | 13 mi |
| Greensboro | town | 2,634 | $53,611 | $1,073 | 7 mi |
| Ridgely | town | 1,772 | $62,048 | $633 | 6 mi |
| Preston | town | 852 | $100,000 | $1,629 | 12 mi |
| Williston | CDP | 391 | $129,479 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Goldsboro | town | 248 | $39,643 | $1,556 | 11 mi |
| Choptank | CDP | 186 | $127,791 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Marydel | town | 149 | $49,750 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Henderson | town | 132 | $100,938 | $1,167 | 14 mi |
| Hillsboro | town | 127 | $66,875 | $955 | 7 mi |
| Templeville | town | 63 | $39,375 | n/a | 19 mi |
| West Denton | CDP | 48 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
Reading the Caroline County data as a borrower
Where the Caroline County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Caroline County budgets.
- Rent squeeze. 56% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who lives in Caroline County, in numbers
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 7.3% of Caroline County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Caroline County | Difference from Maryland | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | -27.2 pts | -5.9 pts |
| Work from home | 6.9% | -12.4 pts | -1.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 16.2% | +7.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | -3.2 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | +2.7 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | +1.1 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | +0.8 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Median age | 39.9 | +0.5 yrs | -1.6 yrs |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 15.6% |
Budget math at the Caroline County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Caroline County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Caroline County: $5,705
- Rent at the median, $1,105, takes 19% of that
- $949: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,453 total minus rent leaves $1,348
Two-income households and single earners in Caroline County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Maryland lender licensing
The Maryland Office of Financial Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Maryland license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Caroline County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Maryland license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Caroline County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Caroline County
The Maryland guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Caroline County?
$68,457 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,678 for Maryland. It ranks 19th of 24 in the state.
Is Caroline County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,105 against $1,705 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Caroline County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 72% of Caroline County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Is West Denton covered?
Yes. West Denton is one of 13 Census places in Caroline County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a Caroline County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Maryland as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.