Carroll, IA vs Cresco, IA

Cresco is moderately more affordable than Carroll, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Carroll scores 69 compared to 65 for Cresco, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carroll 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 $814/month in Cresco — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carroll has cheaper rent, Cresco actually has lower median home values ($105,200 vs $184,100).

Median household income in Carroll is $59,323 compared to $60,769 in Cresco (-2.4%). Cresco offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carroll spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, less than the 16.1% in Cresco.