What are the schools like in Carroll, IA?

Carroll is served primarily by Carroll Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Carroll?

The median household income in Carroll, IA is $60,368 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Carroll, IA?

Carroll has an average high temperature of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

Carroll, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carroll, IA affordable or expensive?

Carroll's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carroll is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,000 and the median rent is $695 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carroll, IA?

Carroll has a violent crime rate of 39.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 978.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carroll, IA a Good Place to Live?

Carroll is a small city of 10,270 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,368 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Carroll stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carroll is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carroll city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.1

Carroll's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carroll costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carroll, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$695	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,368	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carroll's violent crime rate is 39.5 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

39.5 /100k

Property Crime

978.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carroll is served primarily by Carroll Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carroll, IA	National Avg
School District	Carroll Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carroll sees average highs of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 33.7 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carroll, IA
Average High — January	27.9°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.7"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Carroll, IA	National Avg
Population	10,270	—
Median Age	43.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	22.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lidderdale, IA 5 mi Willey, IA 7 mi Halbur, IA 7 mi Glidden, IA 7 mi Arcadia, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Carroll

Carroll, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51401

Carroll vs Other Cities

Carroll, IA vs Lidderdale, IA Carroll, IA vs Willey, IA Carroll, IA vs Halbur, IA Carroll, IA vs Glidden, IA Carroll, IA vs Arcadia, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carroll, IA affordable or expensive?

Carroll's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carroll roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,000 and median rent is $695/month.

What is the crime rate in Carroll, IA?

Carroll's violent crime rate is 39.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 978.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carroll?

Public schools in Carroll are operated by Carroll Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carroll, IA a good place to live?

Carroll, IA has a population of 10,270, a median household income of $60,368, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carroll?

Carroll averages 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.7 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carroll?

Carroll, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51401.

What is the population of Carroll?

The population of Carroll, Iowa is 10,270 with a median age of 43.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carroll?

Key numbers for living in Carroll: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $172,000, median household income $60,368, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carroll side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.