Moving to
Council Bluffs.

$1,030/mo median rent

Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,030 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $171,800. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.

4.1% unemployment

Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.

525 violent crimes per 100k

Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.

18 min average commute

Commutes run short here, averaging 17.9 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.

2 hospitals

There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.

22% bachelor's degree or higher

College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.

18 public schools inside the boundary

There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.

The nearest national park or historic site is Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (4 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.