Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Carter Lake is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Carter Lake trails Iowa on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carter Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carter Lake
Making ends meet is harder in Carter Lake
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.2%), vs 12% across Iowa. Housing insecurity (12.7% vs 9.4%) and utility shut-off threats (8.6% vs 6.4%) are higher too. 15.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Carter Lake
55.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 66.8% across Iowa. Among those 65 and older, 15% have lost all their teeth (Iowa 11.6%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Carter Lake
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.9%), vs 14.5% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Iowa figure falls outside Carter Lake’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Carter Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carter Lake is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #124 of 140 in Iowa. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 48% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 6%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Carter Lake’s median household income is $85,349; among the 10,378 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.6% of Carter Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carter Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
4.9 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Carter Lake adults…
Carter Lake runs above IA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Carter Lake
No hospital or community health center in Carter Lake itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Carter Lake; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Carter Lake adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Carter Lake runs above Iowa.
4 in 10 Carter Lake adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Carter Lake and the towns around it
Carter Lake’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake | C− | 41.3% | 12.2% | 20.9% | CDC place |
| Council Bluffs | C | 40% | 11.8% | 18.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carter Lake adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carter Lake
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carter Lake is better than Iowa on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Carter Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carter Lake | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19–25.5 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–17 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.9–21.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%35.9–46.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.6–14 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32–38.8 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.7–39.7 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.1–29.8 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.2–8.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.1–7.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.4–10.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15%12.2–18 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9%17.6–24.3 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.9%26.6–35.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 20.6%17.5–23.8 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%31.9–42.4 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.7–11.9 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72.1–78.9 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.8%52.2–59.4 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.2–84 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.6–80.2 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%57.1–66.7 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%64.6–78.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%20–26.3 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.6%32.1–41.4 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.5–31.4 | 23.3% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%15–21.6 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%10.7–15.1 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10.1 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%7.7–10.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.6%12.7–18.6 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%29.8–38.4 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.3–18.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.7–19.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–9 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.2–10.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–5 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Iowa figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Carter Lake
Is Carter Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carter Lake is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #124 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carter Lake?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 46.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carter Lake?
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs in Council Bluffs, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Carter Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carter Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.9%), against 7.3% across Iowa.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Carter Lake more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carter Lake.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Iowa figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.