Carroll, IA vs Shenandoah, IA

Shenandoah is moderately more affordable than Carroll, with a 7.4% lower cost of living index. Carroll scores 69 compared to 64 for Shenandoah, 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 $762/month in Shenandoah — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carroll has cheaper rent, Shenandoah actually has lower median home values ($110,000 vs $184,100).

Median household income in Carroll is $59,323 compared to $52,469 in Shenandoah (+13.1%). While Carroll 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 17.4% in Shenandoah.