Carroll County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Carroll County is located in Maryland with a total population of 174,318. It is the 9th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carroll County is 41.3 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carroll County is $115,876. This is 14% higher than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 48% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.3%. This is 43% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $406,400. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 83.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carroll County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.6% vs 47.4%). The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 29.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Asian population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 6.4%.

Education

39.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% 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 94.9%. Notably, 15.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.