2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Council Bluffs, IA vs Ames, IA

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Highlights
Are people in Ames older or younger than people in Council Bluffs?
- The Median Age in Ames is 15.2 years younger than in Council Bluffs.

Are housing costs cheaper in Ames or Council Bluffs?
- Ames housing costs are 25.6% more expensive than Council Bluffs housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Ames or Council Bluffs?
- The average commute for residents of Ames is 2.2 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Council Bluffs.

Things to do in Council Bluffs?
Council Bluffs, Iowa is a vibrant city located in Pottawattamie County. This bustling community offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the Union Pacific Railroad Museum or one of many popular restaurants. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available in Hitchcock Nature Center, Lake Manawa State Park and Bayliss Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Council Bluffs their home.

Things to do in Ames?
Ames, Iowa is a lively city located in the heart of central Iowa. This bustling city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the picturesque Reiman Gardens or the historic Octagon Center for the Arts. Residents here also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities at Hills Memorial Park or Brookside Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Ames their home.

 Council Bluffs, IAAmes, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock65,522329,725,481
 Median Income$57,683  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock23.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$190,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time18.6  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Council Bluffs    4 Reviews

It's an okay city. Nothing special really. All the fun things to do and good restaurants are across the river in Omaha. I will say CB has some pretty good recreational  More

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Over 9 years ago

Quietly over the years this community has taken untold amounts of riverfront casino tax dollars and converted them into hundreds and hundreds of community improvement  More

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Over 15 years ago

here in council bluffs iowa, we have low crime rate. There have been an increase in shopping areas in the last 2 years and lots of new resturants and three casinos. It  More

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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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