Population 20,594 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carroll County
Household size in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Carroll County are small: just 2.33 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.4 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Carroll County is 41.9 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 42.6, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Carroll County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carroll County
Renters in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Carroll County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (49.4%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Carroll County is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Carroll County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $486 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $525 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $619 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $809 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$323 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Carroll County pays $809 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $323 a month since 2006–10, up 66%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 23.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carroll County
Bachelor's degrees in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Carroll County: 24.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.7% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Carroll County: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carroll County
| Period | Carroll County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carroll County has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carroll County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 22.9% | 8.8% | 1960 | $809 | 24.2% | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Crawford County | 2.51 | 40.3 | 18.5% | 24.0% | 8.3% | 1960 | $732 | 17.7% | 83.2% | 3.9% |
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Monona County | 2.21 | 45.5 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 11.9% | 1954 | $885 | 19.9% | 91.8% | 1.6% |
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Thurston County | 3.29 | 30.0 | 18.8% | 39.0% | 13.3% | 1967 | $728 | 21.6% | 93.6% | 10.9% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
| Tama County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 24.0% | 11.8% | 1959 | $870 | 19.9% | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| Stanton County | 2.48 | 40.2 | 4.6% | 21.7% | 7.2% | 1964 | $1,057 | 23.3% | 94.1% | 0.6% |
| Madison County | 2.44 | 38.6 | 9.6% | 34.6% | 7.9% | 1970 | $894 | 24.1% | 91.3% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Montgomery County, IL · Marion County, SC · Marshall County, WV · Mono County, CA · Monroe County, AL · Monroe County, KY · Monroe County, OH · Monroe County, WV · Montezuma County, CO · Logan County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carroll County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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