Zip code 51503: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51503?

51503 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 51503 in?

51503 is mostly in Pottawattamie County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 51503?

About 37,972 people live in 51503, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51503?

The median household income in 51503 is $79,010.

Q: What zip codes are near 51503?

The closest zip codes to 51503 are 51502, 51501, 51554, 68108, 68110.

Residential delivery areaPottawattamie CountyCentral Time

Population

37,972

Median household income

$79K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$262K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$991/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

122 sq mi

312 people/sq mi

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

About 51503

51503 is a small-town zip code in Council Bluffs, Iowa (Pottawattamie County), covering 122 sq mi of land. About 37,972 people live here, or 312 per square mile. The median resident is 40.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $79,010 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $262,300, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $991 a month.

31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18.7 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; transportation and moving goods; and management.

How 51503 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans8.5%
81st
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%277th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older19.5%
71st
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%499th of 911 in IA
Population37,972
64th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,5078th of 911 in IA
Median age40.6
62nd
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6569th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$50,844
58th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712289th of 910 in IA
Government workers14.8%
58th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%351st of 911 in IA
Residents under 1822.9%
57th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%474th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$40,763
52nd
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877331st of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate68.6%
50th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%806th of 909 in IA
Median household income$79,010
49th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059353rd of 896 in IA
Poverty rate10.8%
49th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%315th of 909 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher30.5%
47th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%161st of 911 in IA
Self-employed workers8.9%
45th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%683rd of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy6%
44th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%636th of 909 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.428
44th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444276th of 908 in IA
Rent-burdened renters48.7%
42nd
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%207th of 882 in IA
Tech workers2.4%
41st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%183rd of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers8.9%
41st
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%412th of 911 in IA
Median home value$262,300
36th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000113th of 881 in IA
Work from home10%
34th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%385th of 911 in IA
Population density312/sq mi
26th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi112th of 911 in IA
Median gross rent$991
21st
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972160th of 771 in IA
Broadband access87%
19th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · IA 88.9%559th of 909 in IA
Unemployment rate3.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%325th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate3.4%
16th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%481st of 911 in IA
Diversity index22.8
15th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4214th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents2.2%
13th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%309th of 911 in IA
Average commute18.7 min
8th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min710th of 902 in IA

Measure	51503	Pottawattamie	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Veterans	8.5%	8.4%	6.5%	6.2%	81st	277th of 911
Residents 65 and older	19.5%	18.7%	18.1%	17.2%	71st	499th of 911
Population	37,972	93,424	3,210,507	334,922,499	64th	8th of 911
Median age	40.6	40.1	38.6	38.9	62nd	569th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$50,844	$48,352	$47,712	$49,666	58th	289th of 910
Government workers	14.8%	12.3%	14.5%	14.5%	58th	351st of 911
Residents under 18	22.9%	22.9%	22.9%	22%	57th	474th of 911
Per capita income	$40,763	$37,477	$40,877	$44,673	52nd	331st of 911
Homeownership rate	68.6%	69.9%	71.7%	65.2%	50th	806th of 909
Median household income	$79,010	$73,602	$75,059	$80,734	49th	353rd of 896
Poverty rate	10.8%	12.1%	11.1%	12.5%	49th	315th of 909
Bachelor's degree or higher	30.5%	23.6%	31.4%	35.7%	47th	161st of 911
Self-employed workers	8.9%	8.8%	10.2%	10%	45th	683rd of 911
Housing vacancy	6%	6.1%	8.5%	10.1%	44th	636th of 909
Income inequality (Gini)	0.428	0.428	0.444	0.483	44th	276th of 908
Rent-burdened renters	48.7%	44.8%	43.9%	51.1%	42nd	207th of 882
Tech workers	2.4%	2.5%	2.9%	3.8%	41st	183rd of 911
Healthcare workers	8.9%	8.6%	9.2%	9.7%	41st	412th of 911
Median home value	$262,300	$195,700	$208,000	$332,700	36th	113th of 881
Work from home	10%	9.8%	11.3%	15.1%	34th	385th of 911
Population density	312/sq mi	98/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	26th	112th of 911
Median gross rent	$991	$1,018	$972	$1,413	21st	160th of 771
Broadband accessWeakness	87%	86.2%	88.9%	91%	19th	559th of 909
Unemployment rateStrength	3.1%	3.8%	3.6%	5.2%	18th	325th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	3.4%	5%	5%	8.4%	16th	481st of 911
Diversity index	22.8	27.6	31.4	61.4	15th	214th of 911
Foreign-born residents	2.2%	4%	5.9%	14.1%	13th	309th of 911
Average commuteStrength	18.7 min	19.8 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	8th	710th 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

10%

18–24

10%

25–34

13%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.6

Under 18

22.9%

65 and over

19.5%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black3%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.3%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.2%
Other0.4%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

22.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

51.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 15,442
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 62.6%
Married couples: 47.2%
Living alone: 30.9%
Veterans (of adults): 8.5%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

17%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

51503

$79,010

Pottawattamie Co.

$73,602

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$40,763

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

19.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.428

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51503

$262,300

Pottawattamie Co.

$195,700

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51503

$991

Pottawattamie Co.

$1,018

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

75%

2–4 units

5–19 units

11%

20+ units

Mobile home

0.9%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 16,425
Owner-occupied: 68.6%
Vacant: 6%
Median year built: 1971
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.9%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

81%

Carpooled

Transit

0.9%

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

10%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

38%

20–29

26%

30–44

16%

45–59

60+

Average commute

18.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

11%

Transportation and moving

11%

Management

11%

Sales

11%

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Business and finance

Production

Education

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.3%

Industries

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Manufacturing

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Other services

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

0.9%

Agriculture and mining

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$50,844

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51503	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$70,461	$74,888
Service	$30,417	$26,804
Sales and office	$42,532	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$57,614	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,019	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

22%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

21%

Graduate

10%

High school graduate or higher: 93.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 30.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.5%
Households with broadband: 87%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.7%
No internet access: 10%
Without health insurance: 3.4%
Limited-English households: 0.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Council Bluffs
State: Iowa
County: Pottawattamie County
Center point: 41.2232° N, 95.7845° W
Land area: 122 sq mi
Water area: 1.5 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51503 spans 2 counties

Pottawattamie County85% of land
Mills County15% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Council Bluffs16% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51503

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51502	Council Bluffs, IA · PO box	4.8 mi	—	—	—
51501	Council Bluffs, IA	4.9 mi	34,618	$59,843	$152,400
51554	Mineola, IA	7.6 mi	194	$102,692	$392,300
68108	Omaha, NE	7.7 mi	14,578	$53,609	$159,700
68110	Omaha, NE	7.8 mi	9,229	$39,813	$132,800
68005	Bellevue, NE	8 mi	21,984	$66,551	$205,900
68102	Omaha, NE	8.1 mi	9,767	$64,111	$389,400
51510	Carter Lake, IA	8.2 mi	3,767	$85,349	$169,400
68101	Omaha, NE · PO box	8.3 mi	—	—	—
68103	Omaha, NE · PO box	8.3 mi	—	—	—
68109	Omaha, NE · PO box	8.3 mi	—	—	—
68119	Omaha, NE · PO box	8.3 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 51503 elsewhere

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

Questions about 51503

What city is zip code 51503?

51503 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 51503 in?

51503 is mostly in Pottawattamie County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 51503?

About 37,972 people live in 51503, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51503 in?

51503 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51503?

The median household income in 51503 is $79,010.

What zip codes are near 51503?

The closest zip codes to 51503 are 51502, 51501, 51554, 68108, 68110.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51503, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.