Mount Carroll is a small town of 1,560 in Illinois, with a median household income of $63,992
and a 2.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount 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 Mount Carroll is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mount 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: 90.0
Mount Carroll's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Carroll costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Carroll, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$95,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$693
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,992
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mount Carroll's violent crime rate is 349.7 per 100,000 residents
— 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
349.7 /100k
Property Crime
349.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Carroll is served primarily by West Carroll CUSD 314.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mount Carroll, IL
National Avg
School District
West Carroll CUSD 314
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Carroll sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 84.9°F in July,
with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.4 inches of snow per year.
Mount Carroll's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Carroll roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $95,200 and median rent is $693/month.
Mount Carroll's violent crime rate is 349.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 349.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Carroll are operated by West Carroll CUSD 314.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Carroll, IL has a population of 1,560, a median household income of $63,992, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%.
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.
Mount Carroll averages 30.7°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.3 inches
with about 33.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Carroll, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61053.
The population of Mount Carroll, Illinois is 1,560 with a median age of 44.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Carroll: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $95,200, median household income $63,992, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mount Carroll side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
