Farm below Catoctin Mountain near Frederick
County in Maryland

Carroll County

Carroll County has the 2nd highest homeownership rate in Maryland (84.3%) and the 3rd lowest poverty rate (5.2%).

Carroll County is home to 177,108 people (2024 estimate) on 448 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
177,108
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
172,887
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.4%
2020–2024
Land area
448 mi²
1,159 km²
Population density
395.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,740
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,766
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−26
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+404
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$78,696
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$8.9 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$118,211
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
5.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.7%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
5.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$434,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.5%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
177,108▲ 17%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate177,1082024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census167,1342010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000151,454July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+16.9%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+3852024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+192024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate9.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate10.0 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Maryland9th of 242024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$78,696BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$8.9 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$118,211ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate5.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher40.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents5.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$434,000ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,427/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age41.3 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households64,285ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes84.3%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Carroll County in context

Comparable indicators for Carroll County, Maryland and the United States.

IndicatorCountyMarylandU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+2.4%+1.3%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)9.810.510.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)10.08.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)2.35.58.22024
Population density (/mi²)395.7645.096.32024
Per capita personal income$78,696$79,259$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$118,211$103,678$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate5.2%9.4%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher40.7%43.4%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents5.5%16.6%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$434,000$419,900$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,427/month$1,705/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age41.3 years39.4 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes84.3%67.6%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Did you know? Carroll County

9th most populous of 24

With 177,108 residents in 2024, Carroll County ranks 9th by population among Maryland's 24 counties and is home to 2.8% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 151,454 in 2000 to 177,108 in 2024, a change of +16.9%, compared with +17.9% for Maryland as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,740 births and 1,766 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 26.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 177,108.

10th in density

Carroll County has about 395.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 10th of 24 counties; Maryland averages 645.0.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $118,211 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 8th of 24 Maryland counties; the state median is $103,678.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $8.9 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 11th largest among 24 Maryland counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.8% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology