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CITY

Carter Lake

Iowa · 3,670 residents (2025 est.) · 1.794 sq mi
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The short version

Carter Lake has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $85,349. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $169,400.

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

Total population
3,767
+16%since 2000
from 3,248 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,100 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 1,810 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.0
+8%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,670 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K4K4K1990201020202024Carter Lake
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,349
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,851 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,306
+104%since 2000
from $18,758 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.8%
+31.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.397
+3%since 2010
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services12.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration9.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$169,400
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,323
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $537 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
91.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 86.7% in 2000
9.0% rent
Vacancy rate
4.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.6%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
77.6%
+28.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+14%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carter Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(3,077)
Black0.2%(8)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(94)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.4%(272)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80%(3,015)
Black0.4%(15)
Hispanic / Latino14.3%(538)
Asian0.3%(13)
Other4.9%(186)
Diversity Score42.1%(1,585)
Diversity Score
42
+403%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.3%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+90%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.6%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−8.0 ptssince 2011
from 73.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.1%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
6.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−38.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 12.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.1%
+20.0 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.8%
−10.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.5%
+10.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Head to head

Compare Carter Lake to nearby cities

CARTER LAKE VS
Council Bluffs
Income$64,578−24%
Home value$171,800+1%
Population62,680+1608%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER LAKE VS
Omaha
Income$73,201−14%
Home value$245,500+45%
Population488,797+13219%
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CARTER LAKE VS
Bellevue
Income$85,462same
Home value$247,000+46%
Population64,863+1667%
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CARTER LAKE VS
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Income$81,961−4%
Home value$260,900+54%
Population16,543+351%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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