CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Council Bluffs

Iowa · 62,799 residents · 42.963 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Omaha metro area
Compare
The short version

Council Bluffs has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,449. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $122,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,799
+8%since 2000
from 58,268 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,462 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 1,356 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
38.3
+11%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K56K59K61K64K1990201020202024Council Bluffs
202463K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,449
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,221 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,489
+52%since 2000
from $18,143 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,400
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$860
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $550 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.3%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 65.0% in 2000
39.7% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+8%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(50,787)
Black2.7%(1,679)
Hispanic / Latino10.4%(6,508)
Asian1%(640)
Other2.6%(1,602)
Diversity Score37.4%(23,459)
Diversity Score
37
+155%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.3 min
+77%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.5%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.1%
−79.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Council Bluffs

Stonecrest
Pop 61,337
Port Charlotte
Pop 66,133
Margate
Pop 60,070
Fountainebleau
Pop 55,665
Places similar to Council Bluffs
Head to head

Compare Council Bluffs to nearby cities

COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
Bellevue
Income$85,462+60%
Home value$247,000+102%
Population64,863+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
Omaha
Income$73,201+37%
Home value$245,500+101%
Population488,797+680%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
La Vista
Income$81,961+53%
Home value$260,900+113%
Population16,543−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COUNCIL BLUFFS VS
Papillion
Income$111,679+109%
Home value$311,000+154%
Population25,127−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Council Bluffs, Iowa has about 62,799 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Council Bluffs, Iowa earns about $53,449 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 $122,400, and the typical rent is about $860 a month.

How educated are people in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

About 19.5% 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 12.2% 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 8,484 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Council Bluffs with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →