Census-designated place · Virginia
Lake Caroline, Virginia
Lake Caroline, census-designated place, in Caroline County, Virginia. Lake Caroline had 2,511 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,862 (±640). GEOID 5143359.
Residents, 2020 Census
2,511
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 2,862 ±640
Median household income
$73,000
±$8,669 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$297,600
±$67,704 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,764
±$407 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Lake Caroline and what county is it in?
Lake Caroline is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Caroline County, Virginia. It covers 2.8 square miles of land, 885 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lake Caroline, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,511 residents in Lake Caroline, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 2,862 (±640).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Lake Caroline is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Lake Caroline | Caroline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,862 ±640 | 32,098 | +1,339 |
| Households | 1,136 ±243 | 11,988 | +379 |
| Average household size | 2.52 ±0.32 | 2.60 | +0.51 |
| Housing units | 1,343 ±247 | 12,920 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lake Caroline?
The median resident of Lake Caroline is 32.0 years old; 28.8% are under 18 and 12.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 28.2%. 20.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lake Caroline | Caroline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 ±3.3 | 38.9 | −12.3 |
| Under 18 years | 28.8% ±6.0 pts | 22.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.4% ±7.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±6.3 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 28.2% ±13.9 pts | 7.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.6% ±14.4 pts | 61.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.5% ±9.9 pts | 23.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±3.7 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.1% ±9.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.1% ±13.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.6% ±7.8 pts | 12.7% | – |
| With a disability | 3.9% ±2.8 pts | 12.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.6% ±5.4 pts | 6.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.4% ±11.6 pts | 89.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.9% ±11.0 pts | 21.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.5% ±8.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 71.7% ±15.2 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8% ±2.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lake Caroline earn?
Half of Lake Caroline's 1,136 households earn less than $73,000 a year (±$8,669), against $87,407 in Caroline County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $63,250 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 23.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lake Caroline | Caroline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,000 ±$8,669 | $87,407 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,617 ±$14,679 | $103,835 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,310 ±$6,573 | $40,262 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.1% ±12.6 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.0% ±22.4 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.1% ±11.8 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.7% ±4.2 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.2% ±5.6 pts | 86.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lake Caroline?
Owners occupy 73.1% of Lake Caroline's occupied homes and renters 26.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $297,600 by its owner (±$67,704). The median renter pays $1,764 a month including utilities, and 68.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lake Caroline | Caroline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $297,600 ±$67,704 | $307,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 ±$407 | $1,293 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 68.0% ±23.2 pts | 43.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,640 ±$177 | $1,725 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.1% ±12.6 pts | 82.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.9% ±12.6 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Housing units | 1,343 ±247 | 12,920 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.5% ±4.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 21.7% ±32.2 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 97.9% ±3.8 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.9 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.1% ±3.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.3% ±8.6 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±2.9 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.3% ±4.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Lake Caroline work and get to work?
79.6% of Lake Caroline's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 50.2 minutes.
| Measure | Lake Caroline | Caroline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.0% ±11.5 pts | 67.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.6% ±11.6 pts | 73.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 19.7% ±11.5 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.7% ±1.6 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 50.2 min ±8.8 | 37.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lake Caroline?
No census tract lies mostly in Lake Caroline; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 305.02Caroline County | 5,880 | $80,865 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lake Caroline) · Census block assignment files
How does Lake Caroline compare with other places in Virginia?
Lake Caroline ranks 222nd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 248th | 374 |
| Residents per square mile | 242nd | 374 |
| Median household income | 222nd | 365 |
| Per capita income | 251st | 374 |
| Median home value | 202nd | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 135th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 28th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 238th | 359 |
| Median age | 338th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 148th | 368 |
| Travel time to work | 2nd | 372 |
Lake Caroline's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Lake Caroline with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lake Caroline?
22 of the 57 figures for Lake Caroline on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lake Caroline are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.