How many renters in Council Bluffs, IA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Council Bluffs, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

45.3% (±4.5 points) of renting households in Council Bluffs, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

33.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 28.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 45.3% (±4.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 33.9% (±3.5 points)
Median share of income: 28.0% (±1.7 points)

Rent as a share of income in Council Bluffs

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Council Bluffs	Pottawattamie County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	16.8% (±3.5 points)	17.8%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	14.2% (±2.8 points)	14.5%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.1% (±2.6 points)	12.1%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.6% (±2.1 points)	10.8%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.4% (±2.9 points)	11.2%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	33.9% (±3.5 points)	33.6%	35.2%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Council Bluffs against Pottawattamie County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Council Bluffs	Pottawattamie County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	45.3% (±4.5 points)	44.8% (±4.0 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	33.9% (±3.5 points)	33.6% (±3.1 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	28.0% (±1.7 points)	27.6% (±1.6 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,731 (±$3,330)	$42,408 (±$3,093)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,030 (±$35)	$1,018 (±$33)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

In Council Bluffs, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Pottawattamie County (44.8%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (43.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Pottawattamie County, Council Bluffs ranks 3 of 14 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 297 of 895.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Council Bluffs

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Council Bluffs
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Council Bluffs	—	45.3% (±4.5 points)	—
Carter Lake	4.9 mi	77.6% (±46.1 points)	Not measurably different
Bellevue	7.7 mi	42.4% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Offutt AFB	8.7 mi	41.6% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Crescent	8.9 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Ralston	9.9 mi	49.7% (±11.3 points)	Not measurably different
Omaha	11 mi	50.0% (±1.7 points)	Not measurably different
McClelland	11 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
La Vista	12 mi	47.4% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Pottawattamie County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Carter Lake	77.6% (±46.1 points)
2	Avoca	50.5% (±17.9 points)
3	Council Bluffs	45.3% (±4.5 points)
4	Walnut	41.2% (±24.4 points)
5	Neola	37.6% (±29.6 points)
6	Underwood	37.5% (±25.7 points)
7	Carson	36.2% (±44.3 points)
8	Oakland	35.2% (±17.9 points)
9	Macedonia	25.0% (±25.7 points)

Showing 9 of 14 places in Pottawattamie County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Council Bluffs

Are renters in Council Bluffs rent-burdened?

45.3% of renting households in Council Bluffs pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Council Bluffs spend on rent?

The median renting household in Council Bluffs, IA spends 28.0% (±1.7 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Council Bluffs city, Iowa (place:16860, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.