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Buying a home in Carroll County, Maryland

The typical owner-occupied home in Carroll County is worth about $434,000, 3% above the Maryland median of $419,900 and 30% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,934 a year in property taxes, about 0.91% of their home's value, lower than the Maryland rate of 0.97%. The median household earns $118,211 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (4.1 times for Maryland). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 72% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Carroll County at a glance

Carroll County Maryland U.S.
Median home value $434,000 $419,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,934 $4,093 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.91% 0.97% 0.94%
Median household income $118,211 $103,678 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 84% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 72% 71% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,342 $2,347 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.5% 20.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,427 $1,705 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 29.6% 30.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1983 1979 1980
Vacant homes 3.7% 7.7% 10.1%
Population 175,321 6,206,011 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Carroll County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Carroll County home of $434,000 with 20% down costs about $2,846 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,569, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $121,954 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Carroll County household income of $118,211; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $421,000.

The median rent here is $1,427 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,419 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$86,800
Loan amount$347,200
Principal and interest$2,336
Property taxes (0.91% a year)$329
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$181
PMI$0
Total per month$2,846

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$15,190
Loan amount$426,139
Principal and interest$2,867
Property taxes (0.91% a year)$329
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$181
FHA mortgage insurance$192
Total per month$3,569

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Questions about home buying in Carroll County

What is the median home value in Carroll County?

About $434,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Carroll County?

Homeowners pay a median $3,934 a year, which is about 0.91% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Carroll County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,846 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $121,954 a year.

More about Carroll County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data