The Town FilesCarlisle, Iowa
City in Warren County · population 4,160 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $234,300
- Household income
- $109,191
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 36.3
Carlisle is a city of 4,160 people in Warren County, Iowa. The median home is worth $234,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 85% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Carlisle ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carlisle is worth $234,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $109,191, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,000 a month. 84.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlisle | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,000 | $820 |
| Median household income | $109,191 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlisle
| People | Carlisle | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Carlisle
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 18, 1974 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 135 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 145 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 13,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,236 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Carlisle itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Carlisle
3 public schools with 1,986 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle High School | 9-12 | 730 | 22.1 |
| Carlisle Elementary School | PK-3 | 725 | 13.9 |
| Carlisle Middle School | 6-8 | 531 | 13.0 |
Towns near Carlisle
- Pleasant Hill, IA5.7 mi · 10,147 people · home $295,100
- Des Moines, IA7.5 mi · 214,133 people · home $194,700
- Altoona, IA9.2 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
- Norwalk, IA11.1 mi · 12,799 people · home $303,100
- Indianola, IA11.5 mi · 15,833 people · home $237,500
- Bondurant, IA12.5 mi · 7,365 people · home $318,800
- Windsor Heights, IA13.2 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Saylorville, IA13.4 mi · 3,584 people · home $314,300
Carlisle questions
Is Carlisle, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlisle scores better for retirees than 15% of Iowa towns and quieter than 16%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Carlisle?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlisle is valued at $234,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,191, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlisle?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Carlisle get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 18, 1974. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)