Poverty and living standards in Council Bluffs, Iowa: official figures
15.1% of residents of Council Bluffs (9,159 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 279th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Iowa: 11.1%).
How many children live in poverty in Council Bluffs?
22.3% of children under 18 in Council Bluffs lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (3,056 children), 204th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Iowa: 12.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Council Bluffs?
By age, the poverty rate in Council Bluffs was 21.8% for children under 6 and 13.4% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Council Bluffs live in deep poverty?
4,572 people in Council Bluffs, 7.5% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 253rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Council Bluffs are cost-burdened?
45.3% of renting households in Council Bluffs spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (4,005 households), 118th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Iowa: 43.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Council Bluffs spend half their income on rent?
22.0% of renting households in Council Bluffs spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 165th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Council Bluffs are food insecure?
An estimated 17.3% of adults in Council Bluffs experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 290th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 12.8% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Council Bluffs compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 279 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 276 | Oklahoma City | 15.1% |
| 277 | Greeley | 15.1% |
| 278 | Glendale | 15.1% |
| 279 | Council Bluffs | 15.1% |
| 280 | Deerfield Beach | 15.1% |
| 281 | Fort Lauderdale | 15.0% |
| 282 | Sarasota | 15.0% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 204 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Indianapolis | 22.4% |
| 202 | West Palm Beach | 22.4% |
| 203 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 22.4% |
| 204 | Council Bluffs | 22.3% |
| 205 | Lake Havasu City | 22.3% |
| 206 | Porterville | 22.3% |
| 207 | Logan | 22.2% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 253 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | Bozeman | 7.5% |
| 251 | Lake Havasu City | 7.5% |
| 252 | Winter Haven | 7.5% |
| 253 | Council Bluffs | 7.5% |
| 254 | North Charleston | 7.5% |
| 255 | Fort Wayne | 7.5% |
| 256 | Nashville | 7.5% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Council Bluffs ranks 706 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 703 | Huntsville | 45.3% |
| 704 | Grapevine | 45.3% |
| 705 | Goose Creek | 45.3% |
| 706 | Council Bluffs | 45.3% |
| 707 | Grand Forks | 45.2% |
| 708 | Cedar Rapids | 45.2% |
| 709 | Lebanon | 45.2% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Council Bluffs ranks 301 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 298 | Auburn | 17.4% |
| 299 | Davenport | 17.3% |
| 300 | Kenosha | 17.3% |
| 301 | Council Bluffs | 17.3% |
| 302 | Carson City | 17.3% |
| 303 | Oak Lawn | 17.3% |
| 304 | Charlotte | 17.2% |
More on Council Bluffs: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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