Carson, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Pottawattamie County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
768 Population 1,182/sq mi density
$70,703 Median Income $33,919 per capita
$172,600 Home Value $261,349 Zillow
$731 Median Rent 28.1% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$70,703 median income, 4.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$172,600 home value, $731/mo rent
C+
Education
3.0 / 5.0
24.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Carson experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches. The area receives 28.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 74°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average49.4°F
9% below US avg
January Average21°F (-6°C)
July Average74°F (24°C)

Geography

Elevation1,120 ft (341 m)
Area0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)
Population Density1,182/sq mi
Coordinates41.2357°N, 95.4198°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyPottawattamie County County
Nearest AirportEppley Airfield (OMA)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 36.4"
4% below US avg
Snowfall 28.0"
Wettest Month (May) 5.42"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.85"

Air Quality

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score80.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability21.9 / 100
Community Resilience69.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M3.6 on Dec 17, 2009.

Dec 17, 2009 2 km NW of Auburn, Nebraska M3.6 100 km
Jul 16, 2004 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa M3.5 68 km
Feb 11, 1995 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri M3.1 90 km
Mar 31, 1993 2 km SE of Nemaha, Nebraska M2.9 103 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

643 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 22 fatalities, 532 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 27, 1953 EF5 65 km 1
May 21, 2024 EF4 56 km 5
Apr 26, 2024 EF4 76 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF4 95 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF4 61 km 0
May 27, 1995 EF4 88 km 0
May 27, 1995 EF4 86 km 0
May 24, 1989 EF4 65 km 0
Mar 29, 1979 EF4 87 km 0
Jun 26, 1976 EF4 28 km 0
May 6, 1975 EF4 55 km 3
Jun 22, 1964 EF4 60 km 0
Apr 12, 1964 EF4 65 km 1
May 10, 1959 EF4 72 km 0
Apr 5, 1954 EF4 76 km 0
Aug 13, 1952 EF4 97 km 0
May 21, 2024 EF3 46 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 27 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 40 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 19 km 1
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,195 ac, 2005).

Year Name Acres Distance
2005 UNNAMED 4,195 11 km
2010 UNNAMED 629 41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 21°F (-6°C) 0.9 in Coldest, Driest
February 25°F (-4°C) 1.1 in
March 38°F (3°C) 2.0 in
April 49°F (10°C) 3.9 in
May 61°F (16°C) 5.4 in Wettest
June 71°F (22°C) 5.3 in
July 74°F (24°C) 3.6 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.9 in
September 65°F (18°C) 3.6 in
October 52°F (11°C) 3.0 in
November 38°F (3°C) 1.6 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 1.3 in

Carson has a seasonal temperature swing of 54°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 36.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (5.4") and January the driest (0.9").

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