Carroll, IA vs Carter Lake, IA

Carroll is moderately more affordable than Carter Lake, with a 13.5% lower cost of living index. Carroll scores 69 compared to 79 for Carter Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carter Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carroll is $718/month compared to $1,115/month in Carter Lake — a 36% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carroll has cheaper rent, Carter Lake actually has lower median home values ($161,200 vs $184,100).

Median household income in Carroll is $59,323 compared to $75,037 in Carter Lake (-20.9%). While Carter Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carroll spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, less than the 17.8% in Carter Lake.