Caroline County, Virginia Income Statistics
Caroline County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Caroline County Around averageWealthier than 73% of counties in Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Caroline County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,935 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,925 | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.5% | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Caroline County is about 7% lower than in Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Caroline County (5.1%/yr) than in Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Caroline County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Virginia average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Caroline County, Virginia grew by 51.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $86,935 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Caroline County
| Metric | Caroline County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.516 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,749 | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,452 | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.3% | 20.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Caroline County, it is 0.516, lower than Virginia's 0.544, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Caroline County, Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $535,395 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Caroline County, Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2021, and was narrowest at 11% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,573 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Caroline County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.5% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 32 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 883 people are unemployed in Caroline County, Virginia.
The average commute time in Caroline County is 32 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Caroline County, Virginia has fallen from 10.5% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.7% in 2020.
Caroline County, VA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Caroline County, VA is the 4th largest of the 5 counties compared here, 32,098 residents against a local median of 129,663. Caroline County, VA's unemployment, at 5.1%, runs 43% above the 3.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $86,935 against a local median of $114,513, 24% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Caroline County, VA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.3% on unemployment, so Caroline County, VA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Caroline County, VA has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County, VA | 32,098 | $86,935 #5/5 | 5.1%/yr #1/5 | 5.1% #5/5 | 0.516 #2/5 |
| Hanover County, VA | 112,800 | $113,167 | 4.2%/yr | 2.7% | 0.514 |
| King George County, VA | 27,895 | $115,859 | 3.8%/yr | 3.6% | 0.539 |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 146,526 | $112,930 | 4.5%/yr | 5.0% | 0.535 |
| Stafford County, VA | 163,446 | $138,122 | 4.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Caroline County, Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Virginia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Caroline County, Virginia.
How Rich Is Caroline County, Virginia?
Caroline County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $86,935, about 7% lower than the Virginia average of $93,527.
How has median household income changed in Caroline County, Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Caroline County, Virginia rose 52%, from $57,250 to $86,935. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Virginia as a whole: +52% against +55%.
What was the median household income in Caroline County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Caroline County, Virginia was $87,878, up 5% from $83,899 in 2022. The Virginia median that year was $91,420.
What was the median household income in Caroline County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Caroline County, Virginia was $69,055. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $86,935.
What is the Gini coefficient in Caroline County, Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Caroline County is 0.516. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Caroline County, Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Caroline County, Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2021, and was narrowest at 11% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,573 since 2009.
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