Cost of Living in Caroline County, Maryland
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Caroline County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Caroline County ranks #2,595 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Caroline County Official GRAPI Estimated at 31.6 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Caroline County was 31.6%. This figure, provided by ACS table B25071, is 1.4 percentage points above the Maryland unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 30.2%. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,105 per month, which is $354 below the state unweighted mean of $1,459. The median home value was $290,100, compared to a state unweighted mean of $370,017. Selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units were a median of $1,367, while the state unweighted mean was $1,660. Renter-household income in the county was $43,828. These metrics are part of the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and provide data on local housing costs during this window. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Caroline County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.6% of renter household income in Caroline County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,105 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,367. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,200 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Maryland unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,459 per month. Caroline County's $1,105 median is 24.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Caroline County
Rent Burden
19.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,597
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.0%
of gross income
The median home in Caroline County may be a stretch
Median home value is $290,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,316 vs. your max of $1,597.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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