Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 51501: Council Bluffs, IA
ZIP code 51501 is in Council Bluffs, Iowa, entirely in Pottawattamie County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 35,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the less populous of Council Bluffs's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $59,843 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Council Bluffs · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Pottawattamie County
- Census places
- Council Bluffs
- Metro area
- Omaha, NE-IA
- House district
- IA-4 119th Congress
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 23.9 sq mi · 1,446 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 51502 also use the name Council Bluffs
Where is ZIP code 51501?
51501 centers on 41.227°, -95.878° and covers 23.9 square miles of land plus 2.4 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 68108, 68102, 68107, 51510, 51503, 68110, 68005, 51526.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 51501, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 51501 compare with the rest of Council Bluffs?
| Measure | 51501 | In Council Bluffs | In Pottawattamie County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 34,618 | 2nd of 2 | 2nd of 24 | 13th of 970 |
| Median household income | $60k | 2nd of 2 | 14th of 15 | 363rd of 396 |
| Median home value | $152k | 2nd of 2 | 12th of 15 | 320th of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 29% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 82% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 51501?
The 2020 Census counted 34,906 people in 51501; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 34,618. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 1.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 34,618
- 2020 Census count
- 34,906−1.4% since 2010 (35,406)
- Households
- 14,271
- Median age
- 38.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 51501?
Of the 34,618 people the ACS estimates in 51501, 22.7% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (77.4%), then Hispanic or Latino (16.0%).
- Under 1822.7%
- 18 to 6461.1%
- 65 and older16.2%
- White, not Hispanic77.4%
- Hispanic or Latino16.0%
- Other or two or more3.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.7%
- Black, not Hispanic1.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 51501 earn?
Median household income is $59,843 (ACS 2020-2024), the 14th highest of the 15 ranked ZIP codes in Pottawattamie County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($60,056 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $59,843
- Income per person
- $30,735
- Below the poverty line
- 16.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 16.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $52,48415,310 returns; wages 79% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 51501?
FHFA's house price index for 51501, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 94% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 52% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $152,400
- Median gross rent
- $1,059
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 63.8%
- Housing units
- 15,053
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 51501?
744 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 5 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade133
- Accommodation and food services109
- Other services (except public administration)77
- Health care and social assistance75
- Construction59
- Wholesale trade47
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 51501?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68108 | Omaha, NE | 14,578 | $54k | 2.8 mi |
| 68102 | Omaha, NE | 9,767 | $64k | 3.7 mi |
| 68107 | Omaha, NE | 31,540 | $63k | 4.0 mi |
| 51510 | Carter Lake | 3,767 | $85k | 4.7 mi |
| 51503 | Council Bluffs | 37,972 | $79k | 4.9 mi |
| 68110 | Omaha, NE | 9,229 | $40k | 5.2 mi |
| 68005 | Bellevue, NE | 21,984 | $67k | 6.0 mi |
| 51526 | Crescent | 1,664 | $95k | 10.1 mi |
| 68183 | Omaha, NE | 0 | – | 3.8 mi (near) |
| 68178 | Omaha, NE | 2,191 | – | 4.4 mi (near) |
| 68105 | Omaha, NE | 22,807 | $58k | 4.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.