Economy, jobs and prices in Council Bluffs, Iowa: official figures
The median household income in Council Bluffs was $64,578 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 208th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Iowa median $75,059.
What is the per capita income in Council Bluffs?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Council Bluffs averaged $33,937 a year in 2020-2024, 217th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Iowa: $40,877).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Council Bluffs?
Council Bluffs' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.428 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 260th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
4.2% of the civilian labor force in Council Bluffs was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (1,338 people), 216th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Iowa's 3.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Council Bluffs have jobs?
30,293 residents of Council Bluffs held civilian jobs, 60.2% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 81 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Council Bluffs?
The largest industry group for working residents of Council Bluffs was education, health care and social assistance (20.4% of employed residents), followed by retail trade (14.7%) and manufacturing (12.5%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Council Bluffs work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 12.5% of working residents of Council Bluffs, 167th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 8.2% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
Commuters in Council Bluffs took 17.9 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 65th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 1.8% travelled an hour or more and 42.2% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Council Bluffs get to work?
8.4% of workers living in Council Bluffs worked from home in 2020-2024, 125th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 79.9% drove to work alone, 7.1% carpooled, 0.8% used public transport and 1.9% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Council Bluffs was $1,030 a month in 2020-2024, 81st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Iowa: $972).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Council Bluffs?
Owner-occupied homes in Council Bluffs had a median value of $171,800 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 67th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Iowa: $208,000).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Council Bluffs?
The median home value in Council Bluffs was 2.7 times the median household income, 43rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Council Bluffs have no internet?
11.8% of households in Council Bluffs (3,078) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 12th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 9.9% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Council Bluffs compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 616 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 613 | Wichita | $64,620 |
| 614 | Stonecrest | $64,591 |
| 615 | Richmond | $64,587 |
| 616 | Council Bluffs | $64,578 |
| 617 | High Point | $64,561 |
| 618 | Chattanooga | $64,523 |
| 619 | Union City | $64,310 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 607 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | Longview | $33,995 |
| 605 | Highland | $33,970 |
| 606 | Yuma | $33,951 |
| 607 | Council Bluffs | $33,937 |
| 608 | Mobile | $33,935 |
| 609 | San Antonio | $33,929 |
| 610 | Greenville | $33,924 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 564 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 561 | Livermore | 0.429 |
| 562 | Westfield | 0.429 |
| 563 | San Bernardino | 0.428 |
| 564 | Council Bluffs | 0.428 |
| 565 | Coeur d'Alene | 0.428 |
| 566 | Simi Valley | 0.428 |
| 567 | Tulare | 0.428 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 608 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 605 | Mesa | 4.2% |
| 606 | Idaho Falls | 4.2% |
| 607 | Clearwater | 4.2% |
| 608 | Council Bluffs | 4.2% |
| 609 | Nashua | 4.2% |
| 610 | Bellevue | 4.2% |
| 611 | Omaha | 4.2% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 581 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 578 | Lafayette | 63.0% |
| 579 | Fresno | 63.0% |
| 580 | Newark | 63.0% |
| 581 | Council Bluffs | 63.0% |
| 582 | West Covina | 63.0% |
| 583 | Johnson City | 62.9% |
| 584 | Evanston | 62.9% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 759 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 756 | Bossier City | 18.0 |
| 757 | Peoria | 17.9 |
| 758 | Harlingen | 17.9 |
| 759 | Council Bluffs | 17.9 |
| 760 | Chico | 17.8 |
| 761 | Bowling Green | 17.8 |
| 762 | Yakima | 17.8 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 699 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 696 | Brownsville | 8.4% |
| 697 | Decatur | 8.4% |
| 698 | Abilene | 8.4% |
| 699 | Council Bluffs | 8.4% |
| 700 | Springfield | 8.4% |
| 701 | Waterbury | 8.3% |
| 702 | Tuscaloosa | 8.2% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 493 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 490 | Ontario | 0.9% |
| 491 | Manteca | 0.8% |
| 492 | Little Rock | 0.8% |
| 493 | Council Bluffs | 0.8% |
| 494 | Lincoln | 0.8% |
| 495 | Oshkosh | 0.8% |
| 496 | Des Moines | 0.8% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 167 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 164 | El Monte | 12.6% |
| 165 | Kansas City | 12.6% |
| 166 | Melbourne | 12.5% |
| 167 | Council Bluffs | 12.5% |
| 168 | New Britain | 12.5% |
| 169 | Huntsville | 12.4% |
| 170 | Lake Forest | 12.4% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 629 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 626 | Hamilton | 20.4% |
| 627 | Beaverton | 20.4% |
| 628 | Twin Falls | 20.4% |
| 629 | Council Bluffs | 20.4% |
| 630 | Wellington | 20.4% |
| 631 | Tigard | 20.4% |
| 632 | St. Cloud | 20.3% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 743 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 740 | Racine | $1,033 |
| 741 | Laredo | $1,030 |
| 742 | Appleton | $1,030 |
| 743 | Council Bluffs | $1,030 |
| 744 | Johnson City | $1,023 |
| 745 | Ames | $1,023 |
| 746 | Wichita Falls | $1,022 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 757 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 754 | Sioux City | $173,600 |
| 755 | Independence | $172,900 |
| 756 | Lafayette | $172,800 |
| 757 | Council Bluffs | $171,800 |
| 758 | Parma | $170,100 |
| 759 | Memphis | $169,000 |
| 760 | Schenectady | $168,800 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 778 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 775 | Kansas City | 2.7x |
| 776 | Evansville | 2.7x |
| 777 | St. Joseph | 2.7x |
| 778 | Council Bluffs | 2.7x |
| 779 | Cedar Rapids | 2.7x |
| 780 | Jackson | 2.7x |
| 781 | Waterloo | 2.7x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 293 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 290 | Decatur | 63.3% |
| 291 | Delray Beach | 63.2% |
| 292 | Boise City | 63.2% |
| 293 | Council Bluffs | 63.1% |
| 294 | Kenner | 63.1% |
| 295 | Kokomo | 63.0% |
| 296 | Rapid City | 62.9% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 802 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 799 | New Britain | 85.0% |
| 800 | Lawrence | 84.9% |
| 801 | Harlingen | 84.8% |
| 802 | Council Bluffs | 84.7% |
| 803 | Cleveland | 84.7% |
| 804 | College Station | 84.6% |
| 805 | Provo | 84.6% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 12 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Shreveport | 12.0% |
| 10 | Union City | 11.9% |
| 11 | Flint | 11.9% |
| 12 | Council Bluffs | 11.8% |
| 13 | Bossier City | 11.8% |
| 14 | Gulfport | 11.8% |
| 15 | Lake Charles | 11.6% |
More on Council Bluffs: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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