Groundwork

County profile · Maryland

Carroll County, MD market data

How Carroll County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
176,677
+2.2% since 2020
Households
64,285
Median household income
$118,211
+22.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$434,000
Jobs located here
57,897
Highest market score
88
Gas stations, #46 of 2,358 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Carroll County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Carroll County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Carroll County has an estimated 176,677 people and 64,285 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Carroll County grew 2.2%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Carroll County is $118,211, 46% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 22.2%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carroll County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on medical and dental services (109, still above the U.S.).

Of the business types scored in Carroll County, gas stations (88), chiropractors (82) and clothing and shoe stores (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #46 of 2,358 scored counties.

Carroll County is part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (60% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Carroll County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Carroll County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Carroll County, MD, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Gas stations88#46 of 2,358436.7$5.1M21535
Chiropractors82#42 of 1,490182.8$5M20912
Clothing and shoe stores82#121 of 2,087416.4$3.8M29923
Coffee shops and cafes79#114 of 2,063416.4$7.7M20829
Convenience stores79#191 of 2,261426.5$10.7M13615
Pet stores77#81 of 974162.5$4.8M1063
Clothing, shoes and laundry77#182 of 2,2106810.6$2.3M26037
Barbershops76#124 of 1,356253.9$2.9M155Under 3
Car washes and detailing75#121 of 1,451213.3$3.5M1389
Sit-down restaurants74#268 of 2,40529946.5$1.1M159108
Grocery and convenience stores74#313 of 2,4029614.9$4.7M13946
Restaurants and cafes73#295 of 2,40552882.1$598K161270
House cleaning72#91 of 847162.5$7.5M11730
Fast food and sandwich shops72#297 of 2,222629.6$5.1M167131
Insurance agencies71#433 of 2,2728513.2$2.2M17460
Property management70#144 of 910152.3Index only14220
Grocery stores70#404 of 2,070355.4$12.9M13931
Laundromats69#160 of 78571.1$22.2M1786
Bakeries and dessert shops69#302 of 1,8896510.1$4.9M11729
Dry cleaners67#85 of 50760.9$25.9M1668
Nail salons67#220 of 1,328396.1$1.9M1128
Optometrists and eye care67#267 of 1,302274.2$3.3M1069
Spas and skin care67#305 of 1,769548.4$1.4M15514
Pizza67#398 of 2,090528.1$6.1M119131
Pest control65#157 of 699101.6$12M11710
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios64#155 of 777111.7$6.7M16524
Tire shops64#420 of 1,530264.0$2.8M11212
Gyms63#422 of 1,792507.8$1.5M11324
Funeral homes62#440 of 1,472162.5$653K9612
Primary care and pediatrics60#508 of 1,656375.8$2.4M136112
Hair salons60#672 of 2,33912920.1$567K13255
Salons, barbers and spas57#784 of 2,38525539.7$287K13583
Child care and preschools56#652 of 1,611457.0$1M10255
Gyms, studios and classes55#800 of 2,08810115.7$728K11055
Mortgage brokers and lenders54#346 of 887223.4Index only13717
Veterinarians54#639 of 1,485335.1$2.3M8630
Real estate agents and brokers53#893 of 2,17615023.3Index only14478
Roofing and gutters51#582 of 1,177365.6$6.5M7717
Real estate50#1,082 of 2,22919630.5Index only139143
Pet businesses50#1,101 of 2,20011317.6$681K7855
Pet grooming and boarding49#766 of 1,461426.5$1.8M7222
Collision repair and body shops47#729 of 1,327284.4$2.6M8523
Martial arts and dance studios47#751 of 1,334406.2$1.8M9131
Doctors, dentists and clinics44#1,480 of 2,39451980.7$173K114258
Lawn, cleaning and pest control43#1,137 of 1,7719114.2$1.3M78171
Auto repair and car care43#1,510 of 2,40129545.9$247K92141
HVAC and plumbing42#1,141 of 1,7076510.1$3.6M76113
Dentists and orthodontists42#1,226 of 1,8868713.5$1M10580
Landscaping and lawn care40#1,016 of 1,4936510.1$1.8M63131
Auto repair shops40#1,664 of 2,37818729.1$390K88111
Electricians39#848 of 1,160325.0$7.3M6191
Physical therapy38#1,037 of 1,422548.4$1.7M6934
Home repair trades38#1,578 of 2,05713320.7$1.8M73221
Home inspectors33#338 of 41591.4Index only507
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored20.3$36.5MToo few3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored20.3$45MToo few11

Household spending in Carroll County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Carroll County, MD by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$73M$1,135118
Gasoline and other fuels$220.2M$3,425132
Food away from home$315.7M$4,910121
Groceries$451.3M$7,020111
Personal care products and services$73.2M$1,138113
Child care and other personal services$46M$716123
Memberships, classes and admissions$73.5M$1,143116
Medical and dental services$89.9M$1,399109
Pets$77M$1,198132
Clothing, shoes and related services$155.7M$2,422118
Vehicle insurance$185.9M$2,891148
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$234.8M$3,652121
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$119.6M$1,861132
Rent and homeowner costs$1.2B$18,359110

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Carroll County

Population, 2025 estimate
176,677+2.2% since 2020
Households
64,285
Median age
42.4
Homes lived in by their owners
84%
Vehicles per household
2.1
Land area
448 sq. mi.
People per square mile
392
Median household income
$118,211+22.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$142,587
Median home value
$434,000
Jobs located here
57,897
Daytime population
147,678Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Carroll County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Carroll County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Carroll County is part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.

Questions

How fast is Carroll County, MD growing?

Population estimates put Carroll County at 176,677 people in 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 64,285 households. Median household income rose 22.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Carroll County, MD spend?

Households in Carroll County spend about $1.2B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $451.3M on groceries and $315.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Carroll County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on medical and dental services (109, still above the U.S.).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Carroll County, MD?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Carroll County are for gas stations (88), chiropractors (82) and clothing and shoe stores (82). Carroll County ranks #46 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.

How does Carroll County, MD compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Carroll County is $118,211 a year, 46% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $434,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Carroll County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (60% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in Carroll County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Carroll County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

All markets in Maryland · Every U.S. market · How we measure

Screening a site or an acquisition in Carroll County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Carroll County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.