The Town FilesCarson, Iowa
City in Pottawattamie County · population 766 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,400
- Household income
- $73,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.8
Carson is a city of 766 people in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The median home is worth $181,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 100% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Carson 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 Carson is worth $181,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $73,403, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $744 | $820 |
| Median household income | $73,403 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carson
| People | Carson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Carson
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 18, 1968 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 17, 2022.
Severe weather in Pottawattamie County since 1996
Pottawattamie County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County had 41,403 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,397 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Carson itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Carson
1 public school with 136 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Elementary | 3-5 | 136 | 15.1 |
Towns near Carson
- Oakland, IA5.3 mi · 1,524 people · home $160,200
- Treynor, IA9.7 mi · 1,032 people · home $263,500
- Griswold, IA14.6 mi · 994 people · home $98,900
- Underwood, IA16.9 mi · 954 people · home $253,500
- Minden, IA17.4 mi · 600 people · home $170,500
- Avoca, IA17.6 mi · 1,683 people · home $173,800
- Neola, IA18.2 mi · 918 people · home $205,100
- Malvern, IA18.2 mi · 1,046 people · home $174,700
Carson questions
Is Carson, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carson scores better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns and quieter than 70%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Carson?
The median owner-occupied home in Carson is valued at $181,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,403, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Carson?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.0 inches of snow.
Does Carson get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 18, 1968. 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)