Carter Lake is a small town of 3,780 in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,479
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carter Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carter Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carter Lake 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: 92.5
Carter Lake's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carter Lake costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carter Lake, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$137,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,099
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,479
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Carter Lake's violent crime rate is 560.1 per 100,000 residents
— 47% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
560.1 /100k
Property Crime
4747.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carter Lake is served primarily by Council Bluffs Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carter Lake, IA
National Avg
School District
Council Bluffs Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carter Lake sees average highs of 33.6°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 31.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.1 inches of snow per year.
Carter Lake's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carter Lake roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $137,700 and median rent is $1,099/month.
Carter Lake's violent crime rate is 560.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4747.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carter Lake are operated by Council Bluffs Comm School District.
The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carter Lake, IA has a population of 3,780, a median household income of $64,479, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
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.
Carter Lake averages 33.6°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.9 inches
with about 27.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carter Lake, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51510.
The population of Carter Lake, Iowa is 3,780 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carter Lake: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $137,700, median household income $64,479, crime index 179 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carter Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
