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CITY

Council Bluffs

Iowa · 62,680 residents (2025 est.) · 42.963 sq mi
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The short version

Council Bluffs has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,578. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $171,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,586
+7%since 2000
from 58,268 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,457 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 1,356 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.7
+12%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:62,680 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
53K56K59K61K64K1990201020202024Council Bluffs
202463K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,578
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,221 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,937
+87%since 2000
from $18,143 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+20.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+8%since 2010
from 0.398 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$171,800
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,030
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $550 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 65.0% in 2000
36.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+26%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
51
RELATED:See current rent listings in Council Bluffs on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.5%(53,903)
Black1%(604)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(2,594)
Asian0.6%(343)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.7%(8,544)
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.2%(50,840)
Black2.7%(1,671)
Hispanic / Latino11.6%(7,244)
Asian1.1%(675)
Other3.4%(2,156)
Diversity Score40.6%(25,404)
Diversity Score
41
+177%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.5%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.5%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.9 min
+64%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.3%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 73.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 6.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
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COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Council Bluffs, Iowa has about 62,586 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The typical household in Council Bluffs, Iowa earns about $64,578 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Council Bluffs, Iowa expensive?

In Council Bluffs, Iowa, the median home is worth about $171,800, and the typical rent is about $1,030 a month.

How educated are people in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

About 21.5% of adults age 25 and over in Council Bluffs, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

About 15.1% of people in Council Bluffs, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Council Bluffs, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Council Bluffs, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,271 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →