The Town FilesCarter Lake, Iowa
City in Pottawattamie County · population 3,791 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,400
- Household income
- $85,349
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 40.0
Carter Lake is a city of 3,791 people in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The median home is worth $169,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 96% of Iowa towns.
How Carter Lake 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 Carter Lake is worth $169,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $85,349, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,323 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carter Lake | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,323 | $820 |
| Median household income | $85,349 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Carter Lake
| People | Carter Lake | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Carter Lake
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carter Lake since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1975 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 212 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 248 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 25, 2024.
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 Carter Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Carter Lake
1 public school with 337 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake Elementary School | PK-5 | 337 | 13.5 |
Towns near Carter Lake
- Council Bluffs, IA4.9 mi · 62,799 people · home $171,800
- Omaha, NE7.3 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- Ralston, NE8.8 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
- Bellevue, NE10.0 mi · 64,176 people · home $247,000
- La Vista, NE10.8 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Offutt AFB, NE11.6 mi · 5,363 people · home —
- Papillion, NE13.1 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- Chalco, NE13.5 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
Carter Lake questions
Is Carter Lake, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carter Lake scores better for retirees than 0% of Iowa towns and quieter than 13%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Carter Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Carter Lake is valued at $169,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,349, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,323 a month.
What is the weather like in Carter Lake?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.1 inches of snow.
Does Carter Lake get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carter Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1975. 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)