Homefactsby IDLookupNew search

Neighborhood report

Council Bluffs, IA

Founded 1854Pottawattamie CountyElev. 332 m
Population
62,564
Median home
$164,300
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
17
Sex offenders
16

Overview

About Council Bluffs

With about 62,564 residents, Council Bluffs is one of Iowa's notable places. Council Bluffs was founded in 1854 and sits in Pottawattamie County. The median age is 39 and the median household income is $64,092. Homes carry a median value of $164,300, and about 64% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (82.6%). Around 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 19 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Look up anyone in Council Bluffs, IA
Search Council Bluffs residents by name — addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal & public records.
Search people →

Who lives here

Demographics

Population
62,564
Median age
39
Median household income
$64,092
Per-capita income
$34,252
Poverty rate
13.2%
High-school grad or higher
89.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
21.7%
Unemployment
4.2%
Avg. commute
18.6 min
Work from home
7.8%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White82.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.6%
Black2.5%
Asian1.2%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts33.3%
Sales & office20.8%
Service18.9%
Production, transportation & material moving18.2%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance8.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$164,300
Median gross rent
$980/mo
Owner-occupied
64.1%
Median year built
1964
Households
25,894
Avg. household size
2.34

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Mixed

Council Bluffs has 17 public schools — 11 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 4 schools
Reading48%
Math51%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

Abraham Lincoln High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Lewis Central Senior High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Thomas Jefferson High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Gerald W Kirn Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Lewis Central Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Woodrow Wilson Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Bloomer Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
College View ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
E A Kreft Primary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–1
Edison Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Franklin Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Hoover Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Lewis & Clark Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Longfellow Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime16% above national
Council Bluffs448
Iowa280
United States386
↓ 44% lower than 2019
2019–2023
property crime58% above national
Council Bluffs3,083
Iowa1,487
United States1,952
↓ 48% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Council Bluffs Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Council Bluffs.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Pottawattamie County
HailRelatively High
Strong windRelatively High
TornadoRelatively High
Cold waveRelatively Moderate
DroughtRelatively Moderate
Heat waveRelatively Moderate

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Council Bluffs is in Pottawattamie County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Council Bluffs was founded in 1854 and sits in Pottawattamie County. Elevation ~332 m.

Population trend
63K58K62,56420002024
Map of Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, IA
Where Council Bluffs is
Des MoinesCedar RapidsDavenportSiouxIowaAnkenyCouncil Bluffs
Historic places

26 on the National Register of Historic Places, incl. 1 National Historic Landmark.

Dodge, Grenville M., HouseDodge, Ruth Anne, MemorialHughes, Martin, HouseState Savings BankCavin, Thomas E., HouseBeresheim, August, HouseJefferis, Thomas, HousePottawattamie County Jail
Notable people from Council Bluffs
Lee de ForestArt FarmerHarry LangdonErnest B. SchoedsackThomas GilmanDavid YostJohn S. McCain, Jr.Zoe Ann Olsen-JensenFrancis GuinanJoan Freeman
People searches in Council Bluffs
Michael Smith (9)John Smith (9)James Smith (8)David Smith (8)Robert Smith (8)Michael Johnson (7)John Johnson (7)James Johnson (6)Michael Williams (6)William Smith (6)David Johnson (6)Robert Johnson (6)John Williams (6)Michael Brown (6)Michael Jones (6)James Williams (5)David Williams (5)John Brown (5)Robert Williams (5)John Jones (5)William Johnson (5)Mary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Carroll (77 mi)Sioux (91 mi)Storm Lake (103 mi)Waukee (105 mi)Le Mars (108 mi)West Des Moines (110 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Council Bluffs, IA (16)

Public sex-offender registry records for Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Miguel Jesus Garcia-Hernandez, 39
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA Miguel Jesus Garcia, Miguel Jesus Garcia Hernandez
Paul E Hill, 62ABSCONDER
Council Bluffs · 51501
AKA Paul Edward Hill
Darren Eugene Ketcherside, 32
Council Bluffs · 51501
AKA Kaveman, Darren E Ketcherside
Donald Campbell, 65
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA Donald Lee Campbell, Donald L Campbell
Mark Andrew Smith, 48
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
Anthony Ray Thomas, 27
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51503
AKA Anthony R Thomas, Tony Thomas
Anthony Ray Thomas, 27
Council Bluffs · 51501
AKA Anthony R Thomas
Christopher James Lee, 37
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA Christophe James Lee, Chrisopher James Lee
Richard Harold Lewis Jr, 33
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51503
AKA Richard Harold Lewis, Richard H Jr Lewis
Richard Michael White, 53
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51503
AKA Richard Pannell, White Michael Richard
Richard Thomas Wilson, 67
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA Rich Wilson, Dick Wilson
Jose Ricardo Gonzalez, 31
Council Bluffs · 51501
AKA Jose R Gonzalez
Zachary Lee Still, 23
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA Jose Rodriguez, Zach Still
David Leroy Walker, 47
Council Bluffs · 51501
AKA David L Walker, Dave Leroy Walker
David Leroy Walker, 47
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51501
AKA David L Walker, David Walker
David John Moore Jr, 44
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County · 51503
AKA David J Moore, David John Moore

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Council Bluffs — frequently asked

What is the population of Council Bluffs, Iowa?
Council Bluffs has a population of about 62,564, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Council Bluffs?
The median home value in Council Bluffs is $164,300, and the median gross rent is $980/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Council Bluffs safe? What is the crime rate?
Council Bluffs Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 448 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — higher than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Council Bluffs face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pottawattamie County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including hail, strong wind, tornado.
How many schools are in Council Bluffs?
Council Bluffs has 17 public schools (11 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Council Bluffs?
Public registry data lists 16 registered sex offenders in or near Council Bluffs. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Council Bluffs →