United States › Iowa › Carter Lake CITY
Carter Lake Iowa · 3,670 residents (2025 est.) · 1.79 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Carter Lake is home to 3,767 people in Iowa. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 91% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $169,400. 98% were living in the same home a year earlier. There are 2,100 people per square mile.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,248 in 2000
3,670 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,100 / sq mi
+16%since 2009
from 1,804 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Carter Lake Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $85,349
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,851 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,758 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 9.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Education & health services 0%
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$169,400
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,323
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $537 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 86.7% in 2000
9.0% rent
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.7%(3,077)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(94)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 80%(3,015)
Hispanic / Latino 14.3%(538)
from 21 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 79.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 73.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 40.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 33.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 47.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.4%(42)
Share of the 272 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Carter Lake Head to head
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CARTER LAKE VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Carter Lake, Iowa? Carter Lake, Iowa has about 3,767 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Carter Lake, Iowa? The typical household in Carter Lake, Iowa earns about $85,349 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Carter Lake, Iowa expensive? In Carter Lake, Iowa, the median home is worth about $169,400, and the typical rent is about $1,323 a month.
How educated are people in Carter Lake, Iowa? About 9.5% of adults age 25 and over in Carter Lake, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Carter Lake, Iowa? About 11.5% of people in Carter Lake, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Carter Lake, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Carter Lake, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 567 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.
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