Council Bluffs, IA

Census Place

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2024 Population

62,586

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

38.7

0.769% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

15.1%

14.7% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$64,578

0.758% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$171,800

4.56% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

30,293

0.877% 1-year decline

About

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.

97.1% of the residents in Council Bluffs, IA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Council Bluffs, IA are Iowa Western Community College (1,330 degrees awarded in 2024) and SOHO Hair Academy (13 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Council Bluffs, IA was $171,800, and the homeownership rate was 63.1%.

Most people in Council Bluffs, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17.9 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 97.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 4.96% of Council Bluffs, IA residents were born outside of the country (3.11k people).

In 2024, there were 19.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (50.8k people) in Council Bluffs, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.64k White (Hispanic) and 2.57k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.1%

2024 Citizenship

97.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.1% of Council Bluffs, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Council Bluffs, IA was 97.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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)
50.8k ± 527
White (Hispanic)
2.64k ± 468
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
2.57k ± 507

11.6%

Hispanic Population

7.24k people

11.6% of the people in Council Bluffs, IA are hispanic (7.24k people).

The following chart shows the 8 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
44,333 ± 5,134 people
India
11,889 ± 2,672 people
Guatemala
8,189 ± 2,219 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 44,333 Iowa residents, followed by India with 11,889 and Guatemala with 8,189.

Foreign-Born Population

4.96%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

3.11k people

4.65%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.91k people

As of 2024, 4.96% of Council Bluffs, IA residents (3.11k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Council Bluffs, IA was 4.65%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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
1,310 ± 215
Gulf War (2001-)
943 ± 185
Gulf War (1990s)
605 ± 165

Council Bluffs, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.39 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Council Bluffs, IA.

Health

94.2% of the population of Council Bluffs, IA has health coverage, with 45.9% on employee plans, 23.4% on Medicaid, 13% on Medicare, 10.3% on non-group plans, and 1.56% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Iowa see 1,385 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,385 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1411 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 466 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.1% under 18 years, 21.4% between 18 and 34 years, 37.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

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

Uninsured People

5.84%

Uninsured

45.9%

Employer Coverage

23.4%

Medicaid

13%

Medicare

10.3%

Non-Group

1.56%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Council Bluffs, IA grew by 11.7% from 5.22% to 5.84%.

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.

Economy

The economy of Council Bluffs, IA employs 30.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Council Bluffs, IA were Retail Trade (4,458 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (4,095 people), and Manufacturing (3,781 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($94,313), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($63,241), and Public Administration ($62,278).

Employment

Occupations

30.3k

2024 Value

± 1,274

−0.877%

1 Year decline

± 5.83%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Council Bluffs, IA declined at a rate of −0.877%, from 30.6k employees to 30.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Council Bluffs, IA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,388 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,881 people), and Management Occupations (2,867 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 Iowa.

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.

Industries

Employment by Industries

30.3k

2024 Value

± 1,274

−0.877%

1 Year decline

± 5.83%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Council Bluffs, IA declined at a rate of −0.877%, from 30.6k employees to 30.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Council Bluffs, IA, are Retail Trade (4,458 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (4,095 people), and Manufacturing (3,781 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

$51,250

Median earning men ± $1,626

$39,525

Median earning women ± $1,452

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($82,627), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($64,318), and Wholesale Trade ($60,792).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($62,788), Public Administration ($56,117), and Construction ($49,808).

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.

Education

In 2024, universities in Council Bluffs, IA awarded 1,343 degrees. The student population of Council Bluffs, IA in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 2,431 male students and 3,175 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Council Bluffs, IA are White (919 and 70.9%), Hispanic or Latino (149 and 11.5%), Black or African American (102 and 7.86%), and Two or More Races (39 and 3.01%).

The largest universities in Council Bluffs, IA by number of degrees awarded are Iowa Western Community College (1,330 and 99%) and SOHO Hair Academy (13 and 0.968%).

The most popular majors in Council Bluffs, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (197 and 14.7%), Registered Nursing (110 and 8.19%), and General Business Administration & Management (98 and 7.3%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 5,606 students enrolled in Council Bluffs, IA, 43.4% men and 56.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,426 records, of which 59.7% were women and 40.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
197 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
110 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
46 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Council Bluffs, IA was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 197 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
1,330 degrees awarded
SOHO Hair Academy
13 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Iowa Western Community College with 1,330 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2024, 678 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Council Bluffs, IA, which is 1.02 times more than the 665 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 919 degrees mean that there were 6.17 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 149 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 ($6,420) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($510) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Council Bluffs, IA was $171,800 in 2024, which is 0.516 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $164,300 to $171,800, a 4.56% increase. The homeownership rate in Council Bluffs, IA is 63.1%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Council Bluffs, IA have an average commute time of 17.9 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.

Housing

Property

$171,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,464

$16,433

Median Property Taxes

±$877

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

63.1%

Homeownership

2024

58.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 63.1% of the housing units in Council Bluffs, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 64.1%.

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

Equity

Household Income

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

$64,578

Median Household Income

± $2,842

26k

Number of Households

± 1,137

In 2024, the median household income of the 26k households in Council Bluffs, IA grew to $64,578 from the previous year's value of $64,092.

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.

0.435

2024 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.441

2023 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2024, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.435 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.29% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.474. 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 2024

Drove Alone (79.9%)
Worked At Home (8.39%)
Carpooled (7.15%)

In 2024, 79.9% of workers in Council Bluffs, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.39%) and those who carpooled to work (7.15%).

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

17.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Council Bluffs, IA have a shorter commute time (17.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.683% 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

15.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Council Bluffs, IA (9.16k out of 60.7k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 55 - 64.

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.