Council Bluffs, IA

Census Place

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2023 Population

62,564

0.169% 1-year decline

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

1.56% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

13.2%

3.2% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$64,092

4.76% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$164,300

7.11% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

30,561

0.414% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Council Bluffs, IA had a population of 62.6k people with a median age of 39 and a median household income of $64,092. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Council Bluffs, IA declined from 62,670 to 62,564, a −0.169% decrease and its median household income grew from $61,181 to $64,092, a 4.76% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Council Bluffs, IA are White (Non-Hispanic) (82.6%), White (Hispanic) (4.97%), Two+ (Hispanic) (3.29%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.69%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.48%).

None of the households in Council Bluffs, IA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.5% of the residents in Council Bluffs, IA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Council Bluffs, IA are Iowa Western Community College (1,407 degrees awarded in 2022) and E Q School of Hair Design (154466) (22 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Council Bluffs, IA was $164,300, and the homeownership rate was 64.1%.

Most people in Council Bluffs, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Council Bluffs, IA was 2 cars per household.

United States Iowa Pottawattamie County, IA Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Southwest Iowa--Council Bluffs City PUMA, IA Sarpy County--Bellevue City PUMA, NE Douglas County--Omaha City (Northeast) PUMA, NE Douglas County--Omaha City (Southeast) PUMA, NE

Population & Diversity

Council Bluffs, IA is home to a population of 62.6k people, from which 97.5% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.65% of Council Bluffs, IA residents were born outside of the country (2.91k people).

In 2023, there were 16.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (51.7k people) in Council Bluffs, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.11k White (Hispanic) and 2.06k Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.5%

2023 Citizenship

97.3%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.5% of Council Bluffs, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Council Bluffs, IA was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Council Bluffs, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Council Bluffs, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
51.7k ± 556
White (Hispanic)
3.11k ± 474
Two+ (Hispanic)
2.06k ± 463

10.6%

Hispanic Population

6.6k people

10.6% of the people in Council Bluffs, IA are hispanic (6.6k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Council Bluffs, IA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,604 ± 5,034 people
India
12,351 ± 2,723 people
Vietnam
7,795 ± 2,165 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 42,604 Iowa residents, followed by India with 12,351 and Vietnam with 7,795.

Foreign-Born Population

4.65%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.91k people

4.99%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

3.13k people

As of 2023, 4.65% of Council Bluffs, IA residents (2.91k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Council Bluffs, IA was 4.99%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Council Bluffs, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,264 ± 195
Gulf War (2001-)
923 ± 233
Gulf War (1990s)
740 ± 196

Council Bluffs, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.37 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Council Bluffs, IA employs 30.6k people. The largest industries in Council Bluffs, IA are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,552 people), Retail Trade (4,282 people), and Manufacturing (3,275 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($82,500), Finance & Insurance ($61,023), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,040).

Males in Iowa have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,745. The income inequality in Iowa (measured using the Gini index) is 0.442, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

30.6k

2023 Value

± 1,212

−0.414%

1 Year decline

± 5.7%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Council Bluffs, IA declined at a rate of −0.414%, from 30.7k employees to 30.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Council Bluffs, IA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,495 people), Management Occupations (2,931 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (2,866 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Council Bluffs, IA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

30.6k

2023 Value

± 1,212

−0.414%

1 Year decline

± 5.7%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Council Bluffs, IA declined at a rate of −0.414%, from 30.7k employees to 30.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Council Bluffs, IA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,552 people), Retail Trade (4,282 people), and Manufacturing (3,275 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Council Bluffs, IA, though some of these residents may live in Council Bluffs, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,782

Median earning men ± $2,282

$38,322

Median earning women ± $1,105

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($75,278), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($67,647), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($59,573).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Information ($58,011), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,853), and Public Administration ($50,542).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Y-Axis

1.48%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.57M people employed in Iowa. This represents a 1.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Iowa.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing the state of Iowa. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Council Bluffs, IA. Showing the available data for Iowa.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (55.7%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (42.5%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.789%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Iowa for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Iowa

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Chuck Grassley

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 1981

Joni Ernst

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing Iowa.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Iowa over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Iowa

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Iowa have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Council Bluffs, IA awarded 1,429 degrees. The student population of Council Bluffs, IA in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 2,427 male students and 2,945 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Council Bluffs, IA are White (1,078 and 78%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (119 and 8.61%), Black or African American (116 and 8.39%), and Asian (24 and 1.74%).

The largest universities in Council Bluffs, IA by number of degrees awarded are Iowa Western Community College (1,407 and 98.5%) and E Q School of Hair Design (154466) (22 and 1.54%).

The most popular majors in Council Bluffs, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (314 and 22%), Registered Nursing (126 and 8.82%), and Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (114 and 7.98%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 5,372 students enrolled in Council Bluffs, IA, 45.2% men and 54.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,809 records, of which 57.5% were women and 42.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Studies
77 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
314 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
126 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Council Bluffs, IA was General Studies with 77 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Council Bluffs, IA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Iowa Western Community College
1,407 degrees awarded
E Q School of Hair Design (154466)
22 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Iowa Western Community College with 1,407 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 719 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Council Bluffs, IA, which is 1.01 times more than the 710 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,078 degrees mean that there were 9.06 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 119 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($6,030) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($510) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,240) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Measure

In 2022, 0.66% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.685% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (751k), Some college (564k), and Bachelors Degree (469k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Council Bluffs, IA was $164,300 in 2023, which is 0.542 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $153,400 to $164,300, a 7.11% increase. The homeownership rate in Council Bluffs, IA is 64.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Council Bluffs, IA have an average commute time of 18.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Council Bluffs, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Council Bluffs, IA is $64,092. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in Council Bluffs, IA was Census Tract 316.01 with a value of $108,106, followed by Census Tract 316.02 and Census Tract 317, with respective values of $106,002 and $104,672.

Housing

Property

$164,300

Median Property Value 2023

±$4,412

$16,586

Median Property Taxes

±$818

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Council Bluffs, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Council Bluffs, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

64.1%

Homeownership

2023

59.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 64.1% of the housing units in Council Bluffs, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Council Bluffs, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 316.01
Census Tract 316.02
Census Tract 317

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Council Bluffs, IA was Census Tract 316.01 with a value of $108,106, followed by Census Tract 316.02 and Census Tract 317, with respective values of $106,002 and $104,672.

The following map shows all of the places in Council Bluffs, IA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$64,092

Median Household Income

± $3,681

25.9k

Number of Households

± 1,115

In 2023, the median household income of the 25.9k households in Council Bluffs, IA grew to $64,092 from the previous year's value of $61,181.

The following chart displays the households in Council Bluffs, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Council Bluffs, IA is from Iowa.

0.442

2022 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.439

2021 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2022, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.442 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.723% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (80%)
Worked At Home (7.82%)
Carpooled (7.6%)

In 2023, 80% of workers in Council Bluffs, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (7.82%) and those who carpooled to work (7.6%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Council Bluffs, IA have a shorter commute time (18.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.856% of the workforce in Council Bluffs, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Council Bluffs, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Council Bluffs, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Council Bluffs, IA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

13.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Council Bluffs, IA (7.98k out of 60.6k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Council Bluffs, IA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94.8% of the population of Council Bluffs, IA has health coverage, with 46.9% on employee plans, 22.8% on Medicaid, 13% on Medicare, 10.5% on non-group plans, and 1.55% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Pottawattamie County, IA see 2222 patients per year on average, which represents a 7.29% increase from the previous year (2071 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1666 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 446 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Pottawattamie County, IA.

2,222 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Pottawattamie County, IA

Primary care physicians in Pottawattamie County, IA see an average of 2,222 patients per year. This represents a 7.29% increase from the previous year (2,071 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Pottawattamie County, IA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.1% under 18 years, 21.1% between 18 and 34 years, 37.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.9% were men and 52.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.22%

Uninsured

46.9%

Employer Coverage

22.8%

Medicaid

13%

Medicare

10.5%

Non-Group

1.55%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Council Bluffs, IA declined by 10.6% from 5.85% to 5.22%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Council Bluffs, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Keep Exploring

Iowa

State

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA

MSA

Pottawattamie County, IA

County

United States

Nation