CensusEasy
CITY

Carlisle

Iowa · 4,532 residents (2025 est.) · 5.651 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Des Moines metro area
Compare
The short version

Carlisle is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $109,191. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $234,300. Poverty is rare here, at 3.1% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 45% more than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,255
+22%since 2000
from 3,497 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
753 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 619 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.3
+3%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,532 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K4K1990201020202024Carlisle
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$109,191
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,528 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,599
+119%since 2000
from $19,467 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
67.2%
+37.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.337
−10%since 2010
from 0.374 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services16.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration15.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$234,300
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,000
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $483 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
16.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.9%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.4%
+23.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+10%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carlisle on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(3,403)
Black0.2%(6)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(40)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.8%(132)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(3,968)
Black0.4%(18)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(215)
Asian0.2%(10)
Other1%(44)
Diversity Score16%(679)
Diversity Score
16
+321%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.6%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 82.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.2 min
+59%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
75.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2011
from 73.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.4%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.7%
−94.4 ptssince 2013
from 97.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+10.7 ptssince 2017
from 81.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Carlisle

Clayton
Pop 4,527
Big Pine Key
Pop 4,258
Buckingham
Pop 4,311
Rising Sun-Lebanon
Pop 4,163
Places similar to Carlisle
Head to head

Compare Carlisle to nearby cities

CARLISLE VS
Pleasant Hill
Income$90,508−17%
Home value$295,100+26%
Population11,239+148%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARLISLE VS
Des Moines
Income$65,932−40%
Home value$194,700−17%
Population212,086+4580%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARLISLE VS
Altoona
Income$86,114−21%
Home value$274,600+17%
Population22,796+403%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARLISLE VS
Norwalk
Income$102,722−6%
Home value$303,100+29%
Population15,004+231%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carlisle, Iowa?

Carlisle, Iowa has about 4,255 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carlisle, Iowa?

The typical household in Carlisle, Iowa earns about $109,191 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carlisle, Iowa expensive?

In Carlisle, Iowa, the median home is worth about $234,300, and the typical rent is about $1,000 a month.

How educated are people in Carlisle, Iowa?

About 28.6% of adults age 25 and over in Carlisle, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carlisle, Iowa?

About 3.1% of people in Carlisle, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carlisle, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Carlisle, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,019 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Carlisle with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →