Caroline County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Caroline County is located in Maryland with a total population of 33,406. It is the 20th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Caroline County is 39.8 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Caroline County is $66,368. This is 35% lower than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $272,400. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 71.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Caroline County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (72.8% vs 47.4%). The Black or African American population (13.2%) is well below the state average of 29.2%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 6.4%.

Education

17.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 42.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.0%.