| Index | Carroll | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 77 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 90 | 94 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Carroll allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Carroll stands at 89, marking it 11% lower than the national average.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Carroll and this is how they responded. 0% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 100% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Carroll an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Carroll, the median home price is 17.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 35.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Carroll come in at $74,729, which is 8.1% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Carroll comes in at 8.3% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Carroll, the transportation index is 4.5% lower than the national average.
The Carroll cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $115,729 | $9,644 | $2,700 | $3,472 |
| Renters | $42,332 | $3,528 | $988 | $1,270 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Aspinwall, IA | 22 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Ralston, IA | 101 | 76 | 23.9% |
| Lanesboro, IA | 105 | 77 | 22.9% |
| Lidderdale, IA | 170 | 80 | 19.8% |
| Wall Lake, IA | 788 | 82 | 17.9% |
| Carroll, IA | 10,175 | 89 | 10.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mont-Tremblant, QC | 10,175 | n/a | |
| Russellville, AL | 10,174 | 84 | 16.0% |
| Denham Springs, LA | 10,174 | 97 | 2.9% |
| Charter Oak, CA | 10,172 | 146 | 46.4% |
| Wimauma, FL | 10,172 | 110 | 10.1% |
| Carroll, IA | 10,175 | 89 | 10.6% |
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