The Town FilesCarroll, Iowa
City in Carroll County · population 10,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,700
- Household income
- $69,706
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 43.6
Carroll is a city of 10,321 people in Carroll County, Iowa. The median home is worth $188,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Iowa towns, hipper than 93% of Iowa towns, better transit than 90% of Iowa towns.
How Carroll ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carroll is worth $188,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $69,706, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $722 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carroll | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $722 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,706 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carroll
| People | Carroll | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 11.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Carroll
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carroll since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1877: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 10,978 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,662 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Carroll itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Carroll
4 public schools with 1,672 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll High School | 9-12 | 545 | 16.0 |
| Carroll Middle School | 5-8 | 456 | 16.3 |
| Fairview Elementary School | PK-2 | 432 | 14.4 |
| Adams Elementary School | 3-4 | 239 | 12.6 |
Towns near Carroll
- Jefferson, IA25.2 mi · 4,182 people · home $155,800
- Denison, IA25.3 mi · 8,373 people · home $150,200
Carroll questions
Is Carroll, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carroll scores better for retirees than 51% of Iowa towns and quieter than 21%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Carroll?
The median owner-occupied home in Carroll is valued at $188,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,706, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $722 a month.
What is the weather like in Carroll?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.4 inches of snow.
Does Carroll get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carroll since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)