What are the schools like in Carlisle, IA?

Carlisle is served primarily by Carlisle Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Carlisle?

The median household income in Carlisle, IA is $94,214 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Carlisle, IA?

Carlisle has an average high temperature of 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.5 inches.

Carlisle, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carlisle, IA affordable or expensive?

Carlisle's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carlisle is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $190,200 and the median rent is $925 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carlisle, IA?

Carlisle has a violent crime rate of 114.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 525.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carlisle, IA a Good Place to Live?

Carlisle is a small town of 4,116 in Iowa, with a median household income of $94,214 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Carlisle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carlisle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carlisle city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.7

Carlisle's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carlisle costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carlisle, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$190,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$925	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$94,214	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carlisle's violent crime rate is 114.1 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

114.1 /100k

Property Crime

525.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carlisle is served primarily by Carlisle Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carlisle, IA	National Avg
School District	Carlisle Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carlisle sees average highs of 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 36.5 inches of annual precipitation and 36.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carlisle, IA
Average High — January	30.9°F
Average High — July	85.6°F
Annual Precipitation	36.5"
Annual Snowfall	36.5"

Demographics

Metric	Carlisle, IA	National Avg
Population	4,116	—
Median Age	37.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.9%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pleasant Hill, IA 6 mi Hartford, IA 6 mi Runnells, IA 7 mi Des Moines, IA 7 mi Altoona, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Carlisle

Carlisle, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50047

Carlisle vs Other Cities

Carlisle, IA vs Pleasant Hill, IA Carlisle, IA vs Hartford, IA Carlisle, IA vs Runnells, IA Carlisle, IA vs Des Moines, IA Carlisle, IA vs Altoona, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carlisle, IA affordable or expensive?

Carlisle's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carlisle roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $190,200 and median rent is $925/month.

What is the crime rate in Carlisle, IA?

Carlisle's violent crime rate is 114.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 525.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carlisle?

Public schools in Carlisle are operated by Carlisle Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carlisle, IA a good place to live?

Carlisle, IA has a population of 4,116, a median household income of $94,214, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carlisle?

Carlisle averages 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.5 inches with about 36.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carlisle?

Carlisle, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50047.

What is the population of Carlisle?

The population of Carlisle, Iowa is 4,116 with a median age of 37.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carlisle?

Key numbers for living in Carlisle: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $190,200, median household income $94,214, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlisle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.