1st Advantage Mortgage42% of Caroline County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $87,407 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Caroline County offer.
On this page
- Caroline County by the numbers
- Caroline County housing compared with Virginia
- Caroline County at the extremes
- Paychecks and income spread in Caroline County
- Employment and commuting in Caroline County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Caroline County
- Counties near Caroline County
- Budget math at the Caroline County median
- More Caroline County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Caroline County
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Caroline County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Caroline County's population at 32,098; only 54 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. It covers 527 square miles of land, or about 61 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lake Land'Or is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 4,390 people (14% of the county total).
Caroline County housing compared with Virginia
$1,293 a month is the median gross rent in Caroline County, 18% below the state. By the Census definition, 47% of Caroline County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $307,700, or 3.5 years of median income. 82% of Caroline County households own their home and 18% rent. The median year built is 1993. Nationally, Caroline County's $1,293 rent is 47% above the middle county.
| Housing | Caroline County | Virginia statewide | Caroline County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 82% | 67% | +15.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | +2.9 pts |
| Median home value | $307,700 | $383,700 | 20% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,293/mo | $1,579/mo | 18% lower |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | -1.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | -1.1 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Caroline County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Caroline County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 132 county-level areas in Virginia, these are the Caroline County figures furthest from the middle.
- Caroline County ranks 20th highest of 133 Virginia counties for homeownership: 82%, against 67% statewide. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- Caroline County ranks 23rd highest of 133 Virginia counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 31%, against 18% statewide. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Caroline County ranks 26th lowest of 133 Virginia counties for households without a vehicle: 3.5%, against 6.1% statewide. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
Paychecks and income spread in Caroline County
At $87,407, the typical Caroline County household income is 33% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Caroline County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.8% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +5.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.9% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.5% | -7.2 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Caroline County: 11.2%; Virginia: 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.401 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Caroline County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Caroline County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Caroline County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 8% locally and 5% for Virginia. 5.3% of Caroline County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are common here: 31% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Caroline County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -5.4 pts |
| Public administration | 10.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.1 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Caroline County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Caroline County
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 72% of Caroline County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $21,348, Lake Land'Or over Lake Caroline. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Land'Or | CDP | 4,390 | $94,348 | $1,734 | 11 mi |
| Lake Caroline | CDP | 2,862 | $73,000 | $1,764 | 9 mi |
| Bowling Green | town | 1,561 | $82,500 | $751 | 2 mi |
| Port Royal | town | 89 | n/a | $1,563 | 13 mi |
Counties near Caroline County
Distances run center to center, from Spotsylvania County at 20 miles out to King William County at 26. Caroline County's $87,407 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $56,520 (Essex County) to $116,884 (King George County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | - | $87,407 | $1,293/mo | 82% |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 20 mi | $112,738 | $1,779/mo | 80% |
| Hanover County, VA | 20 mi | $112,805 | $1,591/mo | 82% |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 20 mi | $86,071 | $1,619/mo | 40% |
| King George County, VA | 20 mi | $116,884 | $1,428/mo | 76% |
| Essex County, VA | 24 mi | $56,520 | $972/mo | 72% |
| King William County, VA | 26 mi | $86,056 | $1,166/mo | 89% |
Budget math at the Caroline County median
How much room does a median Caroline County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $87,407 a year is $7,284 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,293)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,329 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $87,407 median has less room than this, often none.
More Caroline County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22% of Caroline County adults. Health coverage gaps: 6.9% of Caroline County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Caroline County | Gap to Virginia | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.8% | -20.3 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Work from home | 11.5% | -6.8 pts | +2.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | -2.6 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | +2.1 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | +1.4 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | +1.0 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Median age | 38.9 | -0.1 yrs | -2.6 yrs |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 0.0 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Minutes to work | Caroline County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.5% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Caroline County
Where the Caroline County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 31% of Caroline County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong-credit shopping. Many Caroline County households (42%) earn six figures; prequalify with several lenders at once.
- Caroline County rent burden. 47% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Caroline County, check the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Caroline County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
No city in Caroline County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Caroline County?
$87,407 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 34th of 133 in the state.
Is Caroline County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,293 against $1,579 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Caroline County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lake Land'Or, Lake Caroline, Bowling Green, Port Royal.
Can Caroline County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Caroline County?
Look it up with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.