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Carroll County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Carroll County, Iowa has a population of 20,594, the 32nd most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $72,930 and the median home value is $176,000. The poverty rate is 7.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Carroll County Quick Facts

Population 20,594
Median Household Income $72,930
Median Home Value $176,000
Poverty Rate 7.9%
Unemployment Rate 1.8%
Median Age 41.1 years
Homeownership Rate 77.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.0%
High School Graduation 95.2%
Cities/Places 13
Population 20,594 32nd of 99
Median Income $72,930 3% lower than state
Poverty Rate 7.9%
Unemployment 1.8%

How Carroll County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population20,67720,594-0.4%
Median household income$68,528$72,930+6.4%
Median home value$175,700$176,000+0.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.8%
$25K-$50K 20.3%
$50K-$100K 31.2%
$100K+ 34.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.2%
$10K-$15K
3.8%
$15K-$20K
4.3%
$20K-$25K
2.5%
$25K-$30K
4.0%
$30K-$35K
3.1%
$35K-$40K
3.9%
$40K-$45K
5.1%
$45K-$50K
4.3%
$50K-$60K
6.9%
$60K-$75K
11.9%
$75K-$100K
12.4%
$100K-$125K
13.0%
$125K-$150K
8.0%
$150K-$200K
6.0%
$200K+
7.7%

Employment

1.8% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.1%
Renter 22.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $731/mo 12.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Carroll County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Carroll10,208$69,7068.9%$188,700
Manning1,533$72,8317.4%$120,500
Coon Rapids1,467$76,01214.6%$134,100
Glidden1,169$68,33311.7%$154,200
Arcadia796$78,5422.1%$141,100
Breda477$62,0954.0%$144,600
Templeton351$75,0004.6%$169,300
Halbur284$84,2502.5%$152,200
Dedham280$100,41714.3%$187,500
Lidderdale177$60,62511.3%$123,400
Willey94$66,5006.4%$100,000
Lanesboro78$44,16714.1%$70,000
Ralston61$62,91726.2%$83,000

Population Overview

Carroll County is located in Iowa with a total population of 20,594. It is the 32nd most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carroll County is 41.1 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carroll County is $72,930. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.9%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $176,000. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Carroll County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carroll County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

24.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Carroll County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Carroll County, Iowa?

Carroll County has a population of 20,594, making it the 32nd most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Carroll County?

The median household income in Carroll County is $72,930 with a poverty rate of 7.9%.

How many cities are in Carroll County, Iowa?

Carroll County contains 13 Census-designated places.