Council Bluffs city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Council Bluffs city is a mid-sized community located in Iowa. The total population is 62,564. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Council Bluffs city is 39.0 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Council Bluffs city is $64,092. This is 12% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.2%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $164,300. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Council Bluffs city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Council Bluffs city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.6% vs 7.0%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

21.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Council Bluffs city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.