The Town FilesLake Caroline, Virginia
Community in Caroline County · population 2,511 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $297,600
- Household income
- $73,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 32.0
Lake Caroline is a community of 2,511 people in Caroline County, Virginia. The median home is worth $297,600, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Virginia towns, better for families than 75% of Virginia towns.
How Lake Caroline ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Caroline is worth $297,600, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $73,000, which is more affordable than 37% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,764 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Caroline | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,764 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.5% | — |
Who lives in Lake Caroline
| People | Lake Caroline | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 50.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Lake Caroline
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Caroline since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 1, 1998 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 21, 2026.
Severe weather in Caroline County since 1996
Caroline County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Caroline County
Caroline County had 6,591 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,154 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lake Caroline itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Lake Caroline
1 public school with 492 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Elementary | PK-5 | 492 | 15.4 |
Towns near Lake Caroline
- Lake Land'Or, VA2.8 mi · 4,555 people · home $302,500
- Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA15.1 mi · 5,610 people · home $395,700
- Ashland, VA15.9 mi · 7,565 people · home $293,200
- Wyndham, VA21.0 mi · 11,087 people · home $703,000
- Fredericksburg, VA21.6 mi · 27,982 people · home $483,700
- Glen Allen, VA22.3 mi · 16,187 people · home $357,200
- Innsbrook, VA23.3 mi · 8,998 people · home $463,500
- Short Pump, VA23.5 mi · 30,626 people · home $568,900
Lake Caroline questions
Is Lake Caroline, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Caroline scores better for retirees than 28% of Virginia towns and quieter than 69%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Lake Caroline?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Caroline is valued at $297,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,000, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,764 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Caroline?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Lake Caroline get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Caroline since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 1, 1998. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)