Council Bluffs, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Council Bluffs, Iowa had a total population of 62,586, the 10th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,578, which is 14% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Council Bluffs Quick Facts
How Council Bluffs Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 62,564 | 62,586 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $64,092 | $64,578 | +0.8% |
| Median home value | $164,300 | $171,800 | +4.6% |
How Council Bluffs Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Council Bluffs Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Pottawattamie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake | 3,767 | $85,349 | 11.5% | $169,400 |
| Avoca | 1,444 | $73,056 | 7.0% | $173,800 |
| Oakland | 1,408 | $81,354 | 14.2% | $160,200 |
| Walnut | 1,342 | $62,500 | 12.4% | $115,900 |
| Treynor | 1,126 | $121,696 | 5.1% | $263,500 |
| Neola | 1,116 | $73,306 | 6.1% | $205,100 |
| Underwood | 898 | $105,341 | 3.3% | $253,500 |
| Carson | 834 | $73,403 | 8.3% | $181,400 |
| Minden | 630 | $109,167 | 2.4% | $170,500 |
| Crescent | 549 | $116,042 | 0.4% | $283,900 |
Cities Similar to Council Bluffs
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | 59,174 | $65,845 | $204,800 | 34.0% | 12.7% |
| Ames | 67,669 | $60,991 | $277,400 | 65.8% | 25.4% |
| Waterloo | 67,008 | $57,480 | $152,600 | 21.8% | 16.6% |
| Iowa City | 75,752 | $58,546 | $285,900 | 60.5% | 26.3% |
| West Des Moines | 71,083 | $86,594 | $309,000 | 54.9% | 8.4% |
Population Overview
Council Bluffs is a mid-sized community located in Iowa, within Pottawattamie County. The total population is 62,586. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Council Bluffs is 38.7 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Council Bluffs is $64,578. This is 14% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $171,800. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Council Bluffs is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Council Bluffs is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.6% vs 7.3%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
21.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Council Bluffs, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Council Bluffs, Iowa?
Council Bluffs, Iowa has a population of 62,586 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Council Bluffs, IA?
The median household income in Council Bluffs is $64,578, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Council Bluffs, IA?
The poverty rate in Council Bluffs is 15.1%. This means approximately 9,159 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Council Bluffs, Iowa?
Council Bluffs's population is 81.2% White, 2.7% Black, 11.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Council Bluffs, IA?
The median home value in Council Bluffs is $171,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.7x.
How educated is Council Bluffs, Iowa?
21.5% of adults (25+) in Council Bluffs hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.