Inverted Light - Flickr - Jan Tik, 2006
Carter Lake’s story
Carter Lake in pictures
Census counts: 846 in 1940, 3,791 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1956 on.
Explore the history →
Carter LakeIA
A town of 3,670. More miles of trail than almost any town in Iowa.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,670
2025 Census estimate · −3.2% since 2020
Typical home
$210K
+5% in a year
Household income
$85K
median
Median age
40.0
years
Jobs based here
1,134
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#126 of 140 in IA
Is Carter Lake a good place to live?
Carter Lake grades D overall, 126th among Iowa's 140 graded towns, mostly because of safety and schools. Its crime rate is higher than 94% of U.S. towns, with 21 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2024. Its schools rank behind 93% of the state's. One bright spot: homes are within reach, about $210K for a typical one, or 2.5 years of the Omaha metro’s $85K median household income. Carter Lake’s property crime rate is 47.5 per 1,000 residents, against 8.9 in Iowa’s towns and 11.5 across U.S. towns. On hazard risk, just 13 of Iowa’s 276 towns do worse. The biggest park or preserve is Boys Club of Omaha, at 26 acres.
What makes Carter Lake stand out
Where Carter Lake beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
OutdoorsA
#2 most trails in IA
5% of the town is conserved land.
Typical home value
Carter Lake$210K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA−
More affordable than 81% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Carter Lake5.6
Iowa2.5
U.S.3.6
Worth knowing · SafetyD
2.2 times the violent crime than IA
FBI data, 2024. Crimes reported to police.
Get outside
5 miles of trails in Carter Lake
5% of the town is conserved land, across 6 parks and preserves.
1
Boys Club of Omaha0.2 mi of trails · 26 acres
2
Levi Carter Park19 acres
3
Mabrey Park12 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Carter Lake grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Carter Lake is from typical.
SafetyDOpen →SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 76% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →HealthLess healthy than 80% of U.S. towns; CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs 4.2 miles awayC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.8 of 20; 3.2% of households have no car; 1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trailsAOpen →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life3.9 library visits per resident; 1.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.0; 10% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 37 attractions →Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and 26 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Carter Lake. Close and well known come first.
5 mi Zoo & aquariumOmaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
36 mi Park & preserveLoess Hills
3 mi MuseumJoslyn Art Museum
in town MuseumUSS Hazard
4 mi MuseumPottawattamie County Jail
12 mi LandmarkFort AtkinsonSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: OmahaZoo, Public domain · Loess Hills: Bill Whittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Joslyn Art Museum: akasped, CC BY 2.0 · USS Hazard: Dave Aldworth / Oldfarm at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Pottawattamie County Jail: Smallbones, CC0 · Fort Atkinson: Unknown, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Carter Lake: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Carter Lake, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCarter Lake Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offCity of Omaha recycling drop-off site, 2 miOpenStreetMap
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 herePottawattamie County AuditorPottawattamie County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5151051510 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 Carter Lake.
Carter Lake has more trail for its size than nearly any town in Iowa, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Iowa (mostly inland flooding) and reports violent crime at about twice the Iowa rate.
OutdoorsA
Carter Lake stands out in Iowa and nationally, with trail density higher than most
At 2.5 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #2 of 87 Iowa towns. Its A for the outdoors ranks #4 of 140 in Iowa.
Carter Lake’s trail density is 2.5 miles per square mile. 4.9 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves.
#2for trails in IA
| Carter Lake | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 2.5 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
5%
conserved · 64 of 1,284 acres
4.9 mi
of trails · 2.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Boys Club of Omaha | 0.2 mi | 26 |
| 2. Levi Carter Park | — | 19 |
| 3. Mabrey Park | — | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsD
Carter Lake earns a D for schools
Its public schools are run by the Council Bluffs Community School District. Its one school is below.
7%of IA districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 301 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
SafetyD
Carter Lake earns a D for safety
Violent crime runs at 5.6 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Iowa rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D. Property crime runs at 47.5 per 1,000 residents, 4 times the Iowa rate, most of it theft.
The violent crime rate in Carter Lake is 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Carter Lake reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 94% report less.
6%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Carter Lake5.6
Iowa2.5
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Carter Lake47.5
Iowa13.3
U.S.17.7
6th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
4th
percentile among IA towns
21
violent crimes reported in 2024
178
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HealthC−
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, more of Carter Lake’s adults smoke cigarettes
21% of Carter Lake adults smoke cigarettes. Only 8 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Carter Lake. 31% of Carter Lake adults get no exercise outside work.
20%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Carter Lake | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 32% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Carter Lake | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 18.2% | 12% |
| More smokers | 20.9% | 14.5% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 12.7% | 9.4% |
Omaha VA Medical Center (VA Nebraska Western Iowa Healthcare System)
4.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
12th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
About half of Carter Lake’s working residents commute to Omaha
56% of working residents cross a state line to work, Papillion among the top destinations. Jobs based here grew from 790 in 2013 to 1,134.
Most working residents leave Carter Lake for work: only 5% work in town. Jobs based in Carter Lake grew to 1,134 in 2023, 344 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Omaha (46%), Council Bluffs (20%) and Papillion (1%).
5%work in town
| Carter Lake | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 5% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $85,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Carter Lake5%
Omaha46%
Council Bluffs20%
Papillion1%
Sioux City1%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,134
jobs based in Carter Lake
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 68% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Carter Lake, with inland flooding at the top
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of Iowa towns, with expected losses of about $550 per resident a year; that rating is what its C− for hazard risk is built on.
Only 8 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher FEMA risk score than Carter Lake. Since 1999, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Carter Lake.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
8
paid flood claims since 1999
10
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Carter Lake has four seasons and pleasant summers
January nights average 13.9°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 88% of Iowa places with climate records; July afternoons average 86.4°.
Carter Lake has cold winters and warm summers. Only 1 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher July high than Carter Lake. About 27 inches of snow falls in a winter.
27″snow a winter
| Carter Lake | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 14°F | 12°F | 22°F |
| July high | 86°F | 84°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–36°
Spring40–63°
Summer64–85°
Fall41–64°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A−
Carter Lake earns an A− for cost of living
91% of households own their home in Carter Lake. Typical home values rose 5% in the year to September 2026. Only 8 of the 137 Iowa towns we compare have a higher median rent than Carter Lake.
$210KZillow home value
| Carter Lake | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 91% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,323 a month | $909 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Carter Lake$210K
Iowa$237K
+5%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Carter Lake
20pages on Carter Lake
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 93% of IA districts · 1 schoolSafetyD5.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthC−Better than IA on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$210K typical home · up 5% in a yearWork & commuteB+$85K median household income · 1,134 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 76% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Carter Lake
Creighton UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Omaha, NE2.3 mi$48,856 tuitionMetropolitan Community College AreaCommunity college · Public · Omaha, NE2.6 mi$3,375 in-state tuitionUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity or college · Public · Omaha, NE3.7 mi
About 2 of every 100 Carter Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Carter Lake for work
Where Carter Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,134jobs based in Carter Lake
5%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Carter Lake
City in Iowa, USA
Carter Lake is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. A suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, it sits surrounding the south and west sides of the region's major airport, Eppley Airfield. It is separated from the rest of Iowa by the Missouri River, effectively making it an exclave. The population was 3,791 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 981 ft
- ZIP code
- 51510
- Area code
- 712
Carter Lake’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Carter Lake.
OmahaCouncil BluffsCarter Lake
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake | #126 | D | A− | D | D | C− |
| Council Bluffs | #127 | D | B+ | D | C− | C |
Questions about Carter Lake
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Carter Lake, IA a good place to live?
Carter Lake grades D overall, better than 14% of U.S. towns and #126 of 140 in Iowa. It grades C− for health, D for safety and D for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Carter Lake, 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−.