Carroll, IA vs Forest City, IA

Forest City is moderately more affordable than Carroll, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Carroll scores 69 compared to 65 for Forest City, 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 $719/month in Forest City — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carroll has cheaper rent, Forest City actually has lower median home values ($136,400 vs $184,100).

Median household income in Carroll is $59,323 compared to $62,917 in Forest City (-5.7%). Forest City 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, more than the 13.7% in Forest City.