Carroll County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Carroll County is located in Virginia with a total population of 29,158. It is the 60th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carroll County is 49.0 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carroll County is $52,575. This is 42% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 63% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $144,200. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Carroll County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carroll County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.7% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Carroll County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.