Zip code 51501: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51501?

51501 is assigned to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51501 in?

51501 is in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Q: What is the population of 51501?

About 34,618 people live in 51501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51501?

The median household income in 51501 is $59,843.

Q: What zip codes are near 51501?

The closest zip codes to 51501 are 51502, 68108, 68102, 68101, 68103.

Residential delivery areaPottawattamie CountyCentral Time

Population

34,618

Median household income

$60K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$152K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,059/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

24 sq mi

1,446 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 51501

51501 is a suburban zip code in Council Bluffs, Iowa (Pottawattamie County), covering 24 sq mi of land. About 34,618 people live here, or 1,446 per square mile. The median resident is 38 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,843 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $152,400, or 2.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 64% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,059 a month.

16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 17.6 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; office and administrative support; and construction and repair.

How 51501 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans7.8%
75th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%349th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate16.3%
74th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%132nd of 909 in IA
Population34,618
58th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,50713th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1822.7%
56th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%483rd of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate7.2%
53rd
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%155th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate5%
52nd
U.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%162nd of 911 in IA
Population density1,446/sq mi
50th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi44th of 911 in IA
Tech workers2.9%
50th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%145th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older16.2%
47th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%692nd of 911 in IA
Median age38
42nd
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6696th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate63.8%
39th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%854th of 909 in IA
Foreign-born residents6.9%
38th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%99th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444305th of 908 in IA
Housing vacancy5.2%
35th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%672nd of 909 in IA
Median earnings per worker$42,972
33rd
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712655th of 910 in IA
Healthcare workers8.4%
33rd
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%461st of 911 in IA
Diversity index37.4
32nd
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.473rd of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$1,059
25th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972119th of 771 in IA
Work from home8.1%
23rd
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%499th of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters42.4%
22nd
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%299th of 882 in IA
Per capita income$30,735
21st
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877792nd of 911 in IA
Median household income$59,843
20th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059751st of 896 in IA
Government workers9.9%
18th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%670th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher16%
12th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%670th of 911 in IA
Median home value$152,400
10th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000519th of 881 in IA
Broadband access84%
10th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%692nd of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers6.1%
10th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%818th of 911 in IA
Average commute17.6 min
5th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min761st of 902 in IA

Measure	51501	Pottawattamie	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Veterans	7.8%	8.4%	6.5%	6.2%	75th	349th of 911
Poverty rate	16.3%	12.1%	11.1%	12.5%	74th	132nd of 909
Population	34,618	93,424	3,210,507	334,922,499	58th	13th of 911
Residents under 18	22.7%	22.9%	22.9%	22%	56th	483rd of 911
Uninsured rate	7.2%	5%	5%	8.4%	53rd	155th of 911
Unemployment rate	5%	3.8%	3.6%	5.2%	52nd	162nd of 911
Population density	1,446/sq mi	98/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	50th	44th of 911
Tech workers	2.9%	2.5%	2.9%	3.8%	50th	145th of 911
Residents 65 and older	16.2%	18.7%	18.1%	17.2%	47th	692nd of 911
Median age	38	40.1	38.6	38.9	42nd	696th of 911
Homeownership rate	63.8%	69.9%	71.7%	65.2%	39th	854th of 909
Foreign-born residents	6.9%	4%	5.9%	14.1%	38th	99th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.428	0.444	0.483	36th	305th of 908
Housing vacancy	5.2%	6.1%	8.5%	10.1%	35th	672nd of 909
Median earnings per worker	$42,972	$48,352	$47,712	$49,666	33rd	655th of 910
Healthcare workers	8.4%	8.6%	9.2%	9.7%	33rd	461st of 911
Diversity index	37.4	27.6	31.4	61.4	32nd	73rd of 911
Median gross rent	$1,059	$1,018	$972	$1,413	25th	119th of 771
Work from home	8.1%	9.8%	11.3%	15.1%	23rd	499th of 911
Rent-burdened renters	42.4%	44.8%	43.9%	51.1%	22nd	299th of 882
Per capita income	$30,735	$37,477	$40,877	$44,673	21st	792nd of 911
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,843	$73,602	$75,059	$80,734	20th	751st of 896
Government workers	9.9%	12.3%	14.5%	14.5%	18th	670th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16%	23.6%	31.4%	35.7%	12th	670th of 911
Median home value	$152,400	$195,700	$208,000	$332,700	10th	519th of 881
Broadband accessWeakness	84%	86.2%	88.9%	91%	10th	692nd of 909
Self-employed workers	6.1%	8.8%	10.2%	10%	10th	818th of 911
Average commuteStrength	17.6 min	19.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	5th	761st of 902

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

22.7%

65 and over

16.2%

Race and ethnicity

White77%
Black2%
Hispanic16%
Asian2%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

37.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

49.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

89%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.2%

Households

Households: 14,271
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 59.9%
Married couples: 38.6%
Living alone: 32.3%
Veterans (of adults): 7.8%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51501

$59,843

Pottawattamie Co.

$73,602

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$30,735

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

16.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51501

$152,400

Pottawattamie Co.

$195,700

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51501

$1,059

Pottawattamie Co.

$1,018

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.0%

Housing units: 15,053
Owner-occupied: 63.8%
Vacant: 5.2%
Median year built: 1963
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 42.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 23.2%
Home value to income: 2.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

Transit

0.6%

Walked

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

19%

10–19

43%

20–29

23%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

17.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

13%

Office and admin

12%

Construction and repair

10%

Management

Healthcare

Production

Sales

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Business and finance

Computer and math

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Industries

Manufacturing

14%

Retail

14%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Education

Other services

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.8%

Median earnings per worker

$42,972

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

6.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

9.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51501	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$54,375	$74,888
Service	$28,531	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,052	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$54,875	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,867	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

39%

Some college

20%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.3%
Households with broadband: 84%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 72.3%
No internet access: 12.4%
Without health insurance: 7.2%
Limited-English households: 3%

Geography

City (USPS): Council Bluffs
State: Iowa
County: Pottawattamie County
Center point: 41.2273° N, 95.8784° W
Land area: 24 sq mi
Water area: 2.4 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Council Bluffs100% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 51501

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51502	Council Bluffs, IA · PO box	2.6 mi	—	—	—
68108	Omaha, NE	2.8 mi	14,578	$53,609	$159,700
68102	Omaha, NE	3.7 mi	9,767	$64,111	$389,400
68101	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68103	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68109	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68119	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68120	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68139	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68145	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68155	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
68172	Omaha, NE · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 51501 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 51501

What city is zip code 51501?

51501 is assigned to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51501 in?

51501 is in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

What is the population of 51501?

About 34,618 people live in 51501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51501 in?

51501 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51501?

The median household income in 51501 is $59,843.

What zip codes are near 51501?

The closest zip codes to 51501 are 51502, 68108, 68102, 68101, 68103.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51501, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.