countyscore
62.8
County Score
Cost of Living 88.3Water Quality 86Property Tax 80.5

County Report Card

About Carroll County, Virginia

A National Leader in Livability

Carroll County boasts an impressive composite score of 63.4, far exceeding the national median of 50.0. This score ranks it among the more desirable rural counties in the United States.

Top-Tier Performance within Virginia

Exceeding the state average of 50.9 by a wide margin, Carroll's 63.4 score makes it a standout performer in the Commonwealth. It offers a combination of affordability and resource quality that few neighbors can match.

Elite Affordability and Pristine Water

Carroll County dominates in cost of living with a 92.3 score, featuring a median gross rent of only $687. It also provides excellent water quality (86.0 score) and a strong tax score of 74.9.

Low Local Incomes and Health Access

The county faces an income score of 19.8, with median household earnings sitting at $52,575. Health scores are also modest at 41.6, reflecting limited access to specialty medical services.

A Paradise for Remote Workers and Retirees

Carroll County is a premier choice for those who bring their own income or are living on a fixed pension. The combination of ultra-low costs, low taxes, and clean water makes it a high-quality, high-value destination.

2040608010080.588.355.241.656.620.354.98671.7Tax80.5Cost88.3Safety55.2Health41.6Schools56.6Income20.3Risk54.9Water86Weather71.762.8/100
This county
National avg
4 above average1 below average

Carroll County DNA

Doverall

How Carroll County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Carroll County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (88.3/100) but notably weak in Income (20.3/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
80.5+28.5
Cost
88.3+40.3
Safety
55.2
Health
41.6-8.399999999999999
Schools
56.6
Income
20.3-30.7
Risk
54.9
Water
86+28
Weather
71.7+15.700000000000003
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Carroll County?

Many homeowners in Carroll County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

Check My Assessment

Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$156,500

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$738/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$156,500/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$29,520/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.9x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $54,484/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

17.1

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
Compare Carroll County with Fremont County →Share on X

Counties with similar scores

Fremont County
Idaho
Median income: $72,683
62.8
Whitley County
Kentucky
Median income: $44,615
62.8
Hamilton County
Nebraska
Median income: $83,994
62.8
Esmeralda County
Nevada
Median income: $41,715
62.8
Mills County
Texas
Median income: $67,620
62.8
Union County
Georgia
Median income: $66,176
62.7
Oneida County
Idaho
Median income: $74,954
62.7
Palo Alto County
Iowa
Median income: $72,781
62.7

Nearby counties

Galax city
Virginia
39.6
Grayson County
Virginia
65.3
Surry County
North Carolina
50.2
Wythe County
Virginia
56.3
Alleghany County
North Carolina
61.3
Patrick County
Virginia
58.9
Pulaski County
Virginia
46.5
Floyd County
Virginia
70

Deep Dives

Carroll County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 8 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Carroll County

via TaxByCounty

Carroll's tax rate below national median

At 0.597%, Carroll County's effective tax rate is lower than the national median of 0.83%. The median property tax of $861 is roughly 68% lower than the national median of $2,690.

Moderate taxes for Virginia standards

Carroll County's 0.597% rate is slightly lower than Virginia's state average of 0.671%, placing it in the lower-middle tier of Virginia counties. Homeowners pay modestly less than the typical state average.

Competitive with nearby rural counties

Carroll's $861 median tax is among the lowest in the profiled region, rivaling Charlotte County ($739) and Campbell County ($913). The county offers affordable property taxes on lower-valued homes.

What your taxes look like here

On Carroll's median home value of $144,200, you'd pay approximately $861 annually in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages typically pay $979, while those owning outright pay around $804.

Small assessments still deserve scrutiny

Even on modest home values, Carroll County homeowners should verify their assessments match market reality. Filing an appeal can help ensure you're not paying taxes on an inflated property value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Carroll County

via IncomeByCounty

Carroll County significantly below national income

Carroll County's median household income of $52,575 falls 30% short of the national median of $74,755. The county ranks among the lowest-income communities in America, reflecting limited job diversity and rural economic constraints.

Among Virginia's lowest earners

Carroll County's $52,575 median is more than $22,000 below Virginia's average of $74,957, placing it among the state's most economically challenged regions. The per capita income of $29,946 trails Virginia's $39,155 by 23%.

Second-lowest in southwest Virginia cluster

Carroll County's $52,575 median exceeds only Charlotte County ($48,892) in its region. Buckingham County ($59,199) earns notably more, highlighting economic disparities across southwest Virginia.

Affordable housing provides stability

Carroll County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.7% is among the lowest in Virginia, reflecting affordable rental and homeownership costs. The median home value of $144,200 is highly accessible, allowing households to build equity despite modest incomes.

Start small, think long-term

Low housing costs offer Carroll County households a foundation for financial stability; use this advantage to build savings gradually. Explore free or low-cost financial literacy resources, take advantage of any employer retirement benefits, and consider asset-building programs designed for lower-income communities.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Carroll County

via CrimeByCounty

Carroll County National Comparison

Carroll County shows a total crime rate of 1023.2 per 100K, which is well below the national average of 2,385.5. This performance earns the county a safety score of 98.4.

Exceeding State Safety Benchmarks

Carroll County's safety score of 98.4 is notably higher than the Virginia state average of 97.3. Local law enforcement data from three agencies confirms a high level of public safety.

Safe in Southwest Virginia

Compared to the Virginia state average of 1728.8, Carroll's rate of 1023.2 per 100K stands out as very low. It maintains a more secure profile than many of its rural neighbors in the Southwest region.

Property and Violent Incidents

Property crime sits at 892.7 per 100K, roughly 44% of the national average. Violent crime is also infrequent, occurring at a rate of 130.5 per 100K in 2022.

Keep Your Household Secure

While crime is infrequent, basic home security remains a smart investment for every household. Locking doors and installing cameras help keep Carroll County's crime rates among the lowest in the state.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Soil Quality in Carroll County

via SoilByCounty

Consistent acidic soil baseline

Carroll County maintains a pH of 5.25, which mirrors the Virginia state average of 5.23. Like much of the state, it is significantly more acidic than the national median of 6.5.

Balanced and versatile mix

The soil composition is a balanced 46.5% sand and 37.6% silt, providing a sturdy structure for roots. With 16.0% clay, this mix retains moisture better than sandier neighbors while remaining workable for home gardeners.

Superior water retention

The organic matter content is 2.15%, beating the national average of 2.0%. This supports an available water capacity of 0.156 in/in, which is higher than the state average of 0.143, offering excellent drought resistance.

Stable hydrologic properties

The specific drainage class and taxonomic order are not defined in the current survey. However, the higher water capacity suggests these soils hold moisture effectively without becoming immediately saturated.

Abundance in Zone 7a

Carroll's 7a hardiness zone is ideal for apple orchards and berries. The high water capacity of your soil makes this an excellent place to start a high-yield fruit or vegetable patch.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Carroll County

via LawnByCounty

A Challenging Climb for Carroll Lawns

Carroll County presents a difficult environment with a lawn score of just 30.0, the lowest in this group. Maintaining a lush yard here is significantly harder than the national average, requiring extra attention to local conditions.

Managing Unpredictable Mountain Weather

While specific local temperature data is unavailable, the Hardiness Zone 7a classification suggests a shorter window for warm-season growth. Homeowners should focus on monitoring soil moisture closely since rainfall totals can vary across the county's terrain.

Amending Acidic Mountain Soils

A soil pH of 5.25 indicates highly acidic conditions that can lock away essential nutrients from grass roots. The soil contains 46.5% sand and 16.0% clay, a mix that often requires organic compost to improve water retention.

Staying Green Through Dry Spells

Carroll County has spent 27 weeks in drought over the past year, and 100.0% of the area remains abnormally dry today. Vigilant watering during these periods is the only way to prevent permanent damage to sensitive turfgrass.

Starting Your Carroll County Lawn

Cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass or Fine Fescue are best suited for the 7a climate found here. Because of the lower difficulty score, starting with high-quality sod may be more successful than traditional seeding.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carroll County's county score?
Carroll County, Virginia has a composite county score of 62.8 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Carroll County rank among counties in Virginia?
Carroll County ranks #15 among all counties in Virginia on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Carroll County, Virginia?
The median annual property tax in Carroll County is $834, with an effective tax rate of 0.53%. This earns Carroll County a tax score of 80.5/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Carroll County?
The median household income in Carroll County, Virginia is $54,484 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Carroll County earns an income score of 20.3/100 on CountyScore.
Is Carroll County, Virginia a good place to live?
Carroll County scores 62.8/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #15 in Virginia. The best way to evaluate Carroll County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Carroll County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.