Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Ratings
AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Carter Lake is a small city located in the state of Iowa. The city has a population of 3,891 inhabitants. The majority of Carter Lake residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and American Indian and Alaskan. Carter Lake is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 47% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Carter Lake will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 21 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Carter Lake could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Iowa if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Carter Lake and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, education and other important metrics.
The livability score in Carter Lake is 64/100 and the city is ranked in the 53rd percentile of all cities across America. If we check out each of the categories on their own, we see that Carter Lake ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Carter Lake does not rank well for, including: amenities (F) and crime (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Carter Lake has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Carter Lake meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Carter Lake. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Carter Lake are simply unattainable. The median home price for Carter Lake homes is $206,355, which is 14% lower than the Iowa average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Carter Lake, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 10% lower than the Iowa average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Carter Lake | Iowa | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 90.3% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 5.3% | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.0% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.4% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Iowa
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in Iowa
Most Dangerous States In The US