Population
20,303
2025
−2.0% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Carroll County, IA: population growth, jobs and income
Carroll County lost 143 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.7%).
Carroll County had an estimated 20,303 residents in 2025, down 2.0% (422 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Iowa as a whole (+1.5%), and the 73rd fastest growth of 99 counties in Iowa.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Data file: the tables in CSV and Excel, no PDF. 3 counties: adds Crawford County and Shelby County.
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In the Carroll County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Carroll County plus 15 more figures, ranked against Iowa and the U.S. Three of the 15, free:
- Median gross rent$731/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes7.9%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months20Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- IRS net movers: people, households and rateIn the report
- Households and housing unitsIn the report
- Homes built since 2010, share of all homesIn the report
- Private business establishmentsIn the report
- Residents who moved in; 3-year net migration rateIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−125
2025
−6.2 per 1,000 residents
−321 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
2.4%
2025
+0.6 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted (calendar 2025)
36
2025
−35.7% since 2021
1.8 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$72,930
2020–24
+23.2% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
10,168
2023
−0.3% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 125 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in. Counting international arrivals, net migration was about −124.
Private employers had 10,168 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.3% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.4% in 2025, 0.6 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 36 new homes in 2025, or 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $72,930 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +23.2% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,464th.
Part of the Carroll, IA micro area.
Get Carroll County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Carroll County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Carroll County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20,303 | −143 |
| 2024 | 20,446 | −67 |
| 2023 | 20,513 | −45 |
| 2022 | 20,558 | −187 |
| 2021 | 20,745 | +20 |
| 2020 | 20,725 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Carroll County
Carroll County lost 422 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−321).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −17 | −172 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +1 | +68 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −125 | −321 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −2 | +3 | |
| Total change | −143 | −422 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Iowa | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 73rd of 99 | 2,464th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 77th of 99 | 2,670th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 51st of 99 | 1,918th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 38th of 99 | 969th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 3rd of 99 | 95th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 45th of 99 | 1,651st of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Carroll County, IA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. It has everything on this page plus 15 more figures for Carroll County, ranked against Iowa and the U.S. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Crawford County and Shelby County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Carroll County's population change (−2.0%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
2 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Carroll County's $72,930 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County, IA This county | 20,303 | −2.0% | −6.2 | 1.8 | $72,930 |
| Audubon County, IA | 5,509 | −3.0% | −2.2 | 1.3 | $58,229 |
| Sac County, IA | 9,525 | −2.7% | −9.3 | 1.5 | $73,838 |
| Calhoun County, IA | 9,562 | −3.4% | −2.5 | 1.4 | $64,964 |
| Greene County, IA | 8,658 | −1.0% | 5.1 | 0.7 | $63,409 |
| Guthrie County, IA | 10,782 | +1.6% | 12.3 | 3.1 | $77,711 |
| Crawford County, IA | 16,237 | −1.5% | −6.9 | 1.2 | $67,027 |
| Shelby County, IA | 11,689 | −0.2% | −3.5 | 0.3 | $72,738 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Carroll County growing?
No. Its population fell 2.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 422 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Most recently, between 2024 and 2025 it lost 143 residents (−0.7%). Iowa as a whole changed +1.5% over the same years. That ranks 73rd of 99 counties in Iowa for population growth.
How many people moved to Carroll County?
Net domestic migration was about −125 in 2025: about 125 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau estimate). Counting international arrivals, net migration was about −124.
What is the unemployment rate in Carroll County?
It averaged 2.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Carroll County?
About 20,303 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Carroll County?
Private employers there had 10,168 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.3% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Iowa
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Iowa county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Carroll County data alerts
Email me when Carroll County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.