Grew up just south of Carroll near Manning, Mom graduated from Carroll Kuemper, Grandparents lived right across from the Country Club on the east side of town for almost 20 years and I worked at Pella Windows for a summer. From all of that, Carroll is probably one of the nicer towns in the area. Good schools, hospital, movie theater, shopping, restaurants, homes. Taxes though are the highest in the area, so if you can handle the "small" town feel; live just 10-15 minutes outside of Carroll in Arcadia, Breda, Auburn, Manning, Halbur, Dedham, etc... If I were you though, I would live in Carroll b/c the other small towns I just mentioned are the black holes where the average age is around 60. Good luck!