Cost of Living in Carroll 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 Carroll County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Carroll County ranks #2,960 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Carroll County Median Home Value Estimated at $434,000
The median home value in Carroll County was $434,000, which is $63,983 above the Maryland unweighted county mean of $370,017. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,961, compared to a state unweighted mean of $1,660. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,427 per month, which is $32 below the state unweighted mean of $1,459. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.6%, as reported in ACS table B25071. This official GRAPI is 0.6 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 30.2%. Renter-household income in the county was estimated at $56,548. These figures represent data from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates for the county's housing market. 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: Carroll County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.6% of renter household income in Carroll County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,427 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,961. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $57,080 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. Carroll County's $1,427 median is 2.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Carroll County
Rent Burden
14.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,758
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
The median home in Carroll County may be a stretch
Median home value is $434,000. Estimated monthly cost: $3,465 vs. your max of $2,758.
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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