Carson is a small town of 762 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,813
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Carson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carson 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: 92.5
Carson's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carson costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carson, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$159,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$697
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,813
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Carson's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents
— 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
395.9 /100k
Property Crime
2012.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carson is served primarily by Riverside Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carson, IA
National Avg
School District
Riverside Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carson sees average highs of 30.1°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.0 inches of snow per year.
Carson's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carson roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $159,500 and median rent is $697/month.
Carson's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2012.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carson are operated by Riverside Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carson, IA has a population of 762, a median household income of $62,813, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
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.
Carson averages 30.1°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches
with about 28.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51525.
The population of Carson, Iowa is 762 with a median age of 42.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carson: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $159,500, median household income $62,813, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
