Council Bluffs, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Council Bluffs Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 23% above the Iowa median$188,339
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Median rent 6% above the Iowa median$1,029
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Council Bluffs | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $188,339 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 24.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,029 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.5% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Council Bluffs is about 23% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 6% higher than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Council Bluffs, up about 24.5% and 3.5% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Council Bluffs rose about 35.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $761 to $1,029. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.9 yearly household incomes in Council Bluffs.
Buying the median-priced home in Council Bluffs costs roughly 15.3 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Council Bluffs. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Council Bluffs | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $188,339 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $64,475 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Council Bluffs rose about 111.9%, while median household income rose about 44.8% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Council Bluffs | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 35.0% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 5.5% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 13.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2013 | 2011 | 2011 |
Council Bluffs has a homeownership rate of 59.5%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 5.5%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Council Bluffs | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.37 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1965 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.3 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Council Bluffs was built around 1965. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 5.3 rooms, staying for about 13.0 years on average.
Council Bluffs, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Cities
How Council Bluffs, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs, IA | 56,893 | $188,339 #1/2 | $1,029 #2/2 | 63.0% #2/2 |
| Bellevue, NE | 49,054 | $109,241 | $1,207 | 65.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The median home price in Council Bluffs, Iowa is $188,339, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The typical home price in Council Bluffs, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $188,339. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Council Bluffs, Iowa is $1,029 per month, higher than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Council Bluffs in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Council Bluffs, Iowa was $855 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Council Bluffs, Iowa is about 15.3, meaning it would take roughly 15.3 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Council Bluffs.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Council Bluffs, up about 24.5% and 3.5% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
59.5% of households in Council Bluffs, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa is 5.5%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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