CarlisleIowaPopPlot, 2021
Carlisle’s story
175 years in pictures
Census counts: 138 in 1860, 4,160 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1954 on.
- 1851Carlisle is settled
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
4,532
2025 Census estimate · +8.6% since 2020
Typical home
$289K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$109K
median
Median age
36.3
years
Jobs based here
1,272
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#24 of 140 in IA
Is Carlisle a good place to live?
Carlisle is one of the best-graded places in America: an A, 24th among Iowa's 140 graded towns. The median household earns $109K, it is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, and a typical home costs about $289K, 3.4 years of the Des Moines metro’s $86K median household income. Its lowest mark, a B, is in schools. On history, just 21 of Iowa’s 276 towns do worse. Carlisle's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 87% of U.S. towns. Only 3 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher average trip to work than Carlisle.
What makes Carlisle stand out
Where Carlisle beats most towns.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Carlisle for work
Where Carlisle’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,272jobs based in Carlisle
9%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Carlisle grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Carlisle is from typical.
Jobs & income1,272 jobs based hereA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 18% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →HealthMercyone Des Moines Medical Center 9.3 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 5.3% of households have no car; 2.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2% conserved landC+Open →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life7.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 19 attractions →Casey's Center and 15 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Carlisle. Close and well known come first.
9 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
8 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol10 mi Theme parkAdventureland
7 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo
11 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
11 mi Stadium & arenaDrake StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Carlisle: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Carlisle, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of CarlisleEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCarlisle Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTuesdayCounty or districtTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWarren County AuditorWarren County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code5004750047 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Carlisle.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Carlisle
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 82% of U.S. communities.
18risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB
Carlisle’s schools rank ahead of 61% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Carlisle Community School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Carlisle High School, with 754 students.
61%of IA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 715 | C− |
| Carlisle High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 754 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Carlisle’s grade for health is an A−
Against the 7,266 U.S. towns with household incomes like Carlisle’s, it is healthier than 56%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
22% of adults binge drink in Carlisle, above both Iowa’s towns (20%) and U.S. towns (16%). 12% of Carlisle adults report frequent physical distress. Carlisle beats the Iowa average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Carlisle | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 12% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
9 better23 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Carlisle | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9% | 12% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.4% | 6.8% |
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
9.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
75th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Carlisle stands out in Iowa and nationally, with fewer of its residents who live below the poverty line
3.1% of residents live below the poverty line in Carlisle, below both the Iowa town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). 9.3% of working residents work locally in Carlisle. The top destinations are Des Moines (34%), West Des Moines (11%) and Ankeny (5%).
9%work in town
| Carlisle | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.3% | 31% | 8% |
| Work from home | 10% | 8.5% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Carlisle9%
Des Moines34%
West Des Moines11%
Ankeny5%
Urbandale3%
12 mi
median commute distance
1,272
jobs based in Carlisle
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 57% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
69%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Carlisle1.6
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Carlisle5.6
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
69th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
73rd
percentile among IA towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
25
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A−
Carlisle’s grade for cost of living is an A−
The typical Carlisle home is worth about $289,000, up 1.7% in a year, 22% above the Iowa typical home.
$289KZillow home value
Typical home value
Carlisle$289K
Iowa$237K
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Carlisle, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Carlisle has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 13° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–34°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–84°
Fall42–63°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than Iowa overall
People 65 and older are 12% of residents (18% statewide); children under 18 are 29% of residents (23% statewide). Carlisle has grown 8.6% since 2020, to 4,532 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Carlisle’s median age is 36.3 years.
36.3median age · IA 38.6
| Carlisle | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 29% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 36.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
CarlisleIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school31%
Some college24%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.7 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Carlisle | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.2% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.8% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.5% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.3% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.9% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.4% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.9% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.3% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.7% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.3% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.2% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.7% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.9% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,500, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsC+
1.7% of Carlisle is conserved land
0.2 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Carlisle Municipal Park, at 20 acres.
1.7%conserved
1.7%
conserved · 65 of 3,796 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carlisle Municipal Park | 0.1 mi | 20 |
| 2. Lindhardt Park | — | 14 |
| 3. Volunteer Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Carlisle
20pages on Carlisle
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 61% of IA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB+1.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than IA on 9 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$289K typical home · up 1.7% in a yearWork & commuteA−$109K median household income · 1,272 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 18% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Carlisle
Mercy College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines9.2 mi$17,664 tuitionGrand View UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines9.5 mi$34,762 tuitionDes Moines Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ankeny14.8 mi$5,790 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Carlisle residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
Famous people from Carlisle
4 notable people were born in Carlisle.
About Carlisle
City in Iowa, United States
Carlisle is a city in Warren and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 4,160 at the 2020 census. The city is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city received considerable media attention in 1997 when Carlisle residents Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey (pronounced "McCoy") became the parents of the world's first surviving set of septuplets.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1851
- Area
- 5.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 853 ft
- ZIP code
- 50047
- Area code
- 515
Questions about Carlisle
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Carlisle, IA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Carlisle grades A overall, better than 94% of U.S. towns and #24 of 140 in Iowa. It grades A− for health, B+ for safety and B for schools.
Is Carlisle, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Carlisle, IA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Russell S. Doughten and Forrest Shaklee.