Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Ratings
AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Council Bluffs is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Iowa. The city has a population of 63,786 residents. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (91% White). Given that fact, Council Bluffs could be considered less diverse than other cities. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Council Bluffs. With an average one way commute time of only 19 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Living in Council Bluffs can be a good experience for anyone moving to the city. Having said that, in the state of Iowa, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, commute, health & safety, education, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Council Bluffs and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Council Bluffs to Iowa and the national average.
Council Bluffs, IA receives 69/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #371 in Iowa and #7,940 in the USA. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Council Bluffs has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a more negative note, Council Bluffs does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (D) and crime (D-). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Council Bluffs excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Assuming that Council Bluffs meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Council Bluffs. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Council Bluffs are simply unattainable. The median home price for Council Bluffs homes is $215,768, which is 10.1% lower than the Iowa average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Council Bluffs, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 10% lower than the Iowa average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Council Bluffs | Iowa | National |
| Average one way commute | 19min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.0% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.4% | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.6% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
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