Cost of Living in Caroline County, Virginia
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 #2,783 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 11%)
Sourced county brief
Caroline County Median Gross Rent Exceeds State Unweighted Mean
The median gross rent in Caroline County is $1,293 per month, which is $123 above the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,170. The official GRAPI, or median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was estimated at 29.3%, which is 0.7 percentage points above the state unweighted mean of 28.6%. Median selected monthly owner costs in the county were $1,487, and the median home value was $307,700. Median renter-household income was recorded at $53,194. This analysis uses the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The data is current as of data version acs5-2020-2024 and was last reviewed on 2026-07-10. 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 29.3% of renter household income in Caroline 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 $1,293 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,487. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,720 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 Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Caroline County's $1,293 median is 10.5% above 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
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,039
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.4%
of gross income
The median home in Caroline County may be a stretch
Median home value is $307,700. Estimated monthly cost: $2,456 vs. your max of $2,039.
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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