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

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Council Bluffs or Iowa City?
- Council Bluffs housing costs are 28.4% less expensive than Iowa City housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Council Bluffs or Iowa City?
- The average commute for residents of Council Bluffs is 1.6 minutes longer than it is for residents of Iowa City.

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!

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.

 Iowa City, IACouncil Bluffs, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,617329,725,481
 Median Income$51,925  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock38.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$265,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.05  Unlock26.38
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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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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