2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Council Bluffs, IA vs Iowa City, IA

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Highlights
Are people in Iowa City older or younger than people in Council Bluffs?
- The Median Age in Iowa City is 12.5 years younger than in Council Bluffs.

Are housing costs cheaper in Iowa City or Council Bluffs?
- Iowa City housing costs are 39.7% more expensive than Council Bluffs housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Iowa City or Council Bluffs?
- The average commute for residents of Iowa City is 1.6 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City, Iowa is a vibrant city located in the Midwestern United States. Home to attractions such as The University of Iowa and The Old Capitol Museum, visitors can explore outdoor activities and historical sites when visiting Iowa City. There are also plenty of museums, galleries, and performance venues such as The Kalona Historical Village and Studio Arts. For entertainment, visitors can explore boutique shops and restaurants along with movie theaters and live music clubs. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an exciting night out, Iowa City has something for everyone!

 Council Bluffs, IAIowa City, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock74,240329,725,481
 Median Income$57,683  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$190,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.5%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 Iowa City    24 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

I was there 5 years. Nothing to do but we’ll go shopping... at Walmart. It lacks so many things. There is no experience here, it jumps on any political band wagon and  More

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Over 5 years ago

Entertainment lacks greatly - especially the Hancher shows. I was hoping after they rebuilt they would be getting better shows there, that didn't happen. One has to  More

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Over 7 years ago

Iowa City is great. It's diverse and never boring. There always a variety of new shops and restaurants to explore and try out. Also watching college kids do stupid  More

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