Council Bluffs, IA · standard
ZIP Code 51501
Pottawattamie County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 35,406
- 566/sq mi High-density area
- $59,843
- Median income Below-median income area
- $152,400
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Council Bluffs pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 29th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 26th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 566
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 51501 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 51501 (Council Bluffs, IA) rose +2.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.9 in 2023 to 217.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 51501 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, with 35,406 residents across 62.5 square miles, a density of 566 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 51501 reports a modest median household income of $59,843 (22% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,735. The poverty rate is 16.3%, with unemployment at 5.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $152,400 (13% below the average Iowa ZIP) and median rent is $1,059; 63.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Pottawattamie County, so 51501 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 51501
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Council Bluffs, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 51501.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
133 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
109 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
77 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
75 establishments
- Construction
Construction
59 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 51501, Council Bluffs, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
35,406
Population
62.5
Area (sq mi)
566
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 51501?
38.0
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
6.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$59,843
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$30,735
Per Capita Income
16.3%
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Unemployment Rate
17.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 51501 ranks nationally
Council Bluffs, IA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$59,843 29th percentile higher than 29% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,053housing units
15,053
Total Housing Units
14,271
Occupied Units
782
Vacant Units
2.39
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$152,400
Median Home Value
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$1,059
Median Rent
1963
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+2.3%
YoY Change (2024)
218
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+118%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 51501 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +118% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.5% | 155 |
| 2021 | +9.4% | 169 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 188 |
| 2023 | +13.0% | 213 |
| 2024 | +2.3% | 218 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 744 business establishments in ZIP 51501, employing approximately 17,652 people with a combined annual payroll of $893,053,000.
744
Businesses
17,652
Employees
$893.1M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 133 | 17.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 109 | 14.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 77 | 10.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 75 | 10.1% |
| Construction | 59 | 7.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 47 | 6.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 43 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 37 | 5.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 36 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 32 | 4.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 28 | 3.8% |
| Information | 19 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 0.9% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.5% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.4% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 51501 vs 68108 →
ZIP 51501 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 51503
Council Bluffs (51503)
36,376 residents
- 51501
Council Bluffs (51501)
35,406 residents
- 68107
Omaha (68107)
29,491 residents
- 68105
Omaha (68105)
23,842 residents
- 68005
Bellevue (68005)
22,132 residents
- 68108
Omaha (68108)
14,664 residents
- 68131 12,302
Omaha (68131)
12,302 residents
- 68110 9,173
Omaha (68110)
9,173 residents
- 68102 6,102
Omaha (68102)
6,102 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 51501 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 51501 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 51510
Carter Lake (51510)
$85,349 median income
- 51503
Council Bluffs (51503)
$79,010 median income
- 68005
Bellevue (68005)
$66,551 median income
- 68102
Omaha (68102)
$64,111 median income
- 68107
Omaha (68107)
$62,560 median income
- 51501
Council Bluffs (51501)
$59,843 median income
- 68105
Omaha (68105)
$57,533 median income
- 68108
Omaha (68108)
$53,609 median income
- 68131
Omaha (68131)
$48,925 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 51501 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68108 | Omaha, NE | 14,664 | 2.8 mi |
| 68102 | Omaha, NE | 6,102 | 3.7 mi |
| 68107 | Omaha, NE | 29,491 | 4.0 mi |
| 68105 | Omaha, NE | 23,842 | 4.5 mi |
| 51510 | Carter Lake, IA | 3,785 | 4.6 mi |
| 68005 | Bellevue, NE | 22,132 | 6.0 mi |
| 68110 | Omaha, NE | 9,173 | 5.2 mi |
| 51503 | Council Bluffs, IA | 36,376 | 5.2 mi |
| 68178 | Omaha, NE | 1,573 | 4.4 mi |
| 68131 | Omaha, NE | 12,302 | 5.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 51501, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (35,406 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Pottawattamie County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 51501 in?
ZIP code 51501 (Council Bluffs) is located in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Pottawattamie County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/pottawattamie-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 51501?
ZIP code 51501 in Council Bluffs, IA has a population of 35,406 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 51501?
The median household income in ZIP 51501 is $59,843, which is 22% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 51501?
The median home value in ZIP 51501 is $152,400, which is 45% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 51501?
The largest racial group in ZIP 51501 is White at 82.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 51501?
ZIP code 51501 has 744 business establishments employing approximately 17,652 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 51501?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 51501 are: Retail trade (133), Accommodation and food services (109), Other services (except public administration) (77). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 51501?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 51501 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 118%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 51501?
In ZIP code 51501, 54.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 51501?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 51501 is 17.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 51501?
In ZIP code 51501, approximately 63.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 51501?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 51501 is 16.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 51501's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 51501 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Council Bluffs, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.