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Council Bluffs, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Pottawattamie County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
62,564 Population 1,456/sq mi density
$64,092 Median Income $34,252 per capita
$164,300 Home Value $218,060 Zillow
$980 Median Rent 27.8% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
790 Violent Crime/100K 5,845 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$64,092 median income, 2.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$164,300 home value, $980/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
790 violent crimes/100K (108% above avg)
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Council Bluffs experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 31.9 inches. The area receives 27.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

24°F Jan (-4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average52.4°F
3% below US avg
January Average24°F (-4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation984 ft (300 m)
Area45.5 sq mi (117.9 km²)
Population Density1,456/sq mi
Coordinates41.2360°N, 95.8532°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyPottawattamie County County
Nearest AirportEppley Airfield (OMA)
5 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 31.9"
16% below US avg
Snowfall 27.1"
Wettest Month (May) 4.25"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.75"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score80.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability21.9 / 100
Community Resilience69.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

6 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.9 on Jan 6, 2014.

Dec 17, 2009 2 km NW of Auburn, Nebraska M3.6 92 km
Jul 16, 2004 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa M3.5 72 km
Aug 9, 1997 9 km NW of Clarkson, Nebraska M3.4 127 km
Feb 11, 1995 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri M3.1 111 km
Jan 6, 2014 5 km NW of Liberty, Nebraska M2.9 137 km
Mar 31, 1993 2 km SE of Nemaha, Nebraska M2.9 103 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

636 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 22 fatalities, 558 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 27, 1953 EF5 99 km 1
May 21, 2024 EF4 86 km 5
Apr 26, 2024 EF4 40 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF4 91 km 0
May 24, 1989 EF4 99 km 0
Jun 26, 1976 EF4 32 km 0
May 6, 1975 EF4 20 km 3
Jun 22, 1964 EF4 69 km 0
Apr 12, 1964 EF4 82 km 1
Apr 5, 1954 EF4 86 km 0
Aug 13, 1952 EF4 61 km 0
Jul 15, 1950 EF4 88 km 0
May 21, 2024 EF3 69 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 76 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 12 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 5 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 22 km 1
Jun 11, 2008 EF3 67 km 4
May 16, 1999 EF3 44 km 0
May 16, 1999 EF3 41 km 2
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,195 ac, 2005).

Year Name Acres Distance
2005 UNNAMED 4,195 47 km
2010 UNNAMED 629 19 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 24°F (-4°C) 0.8 in Coldest, Driest
February 28°F (-2°C) 0.9 in
March 40°F (4°C) 1.9 in
April 52°F (11°C) 2.8 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.3 in Wettest
June 73°F (23°C) 4.3 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.0 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 3.7 in
September 66°F (19°C) 3.4 in
October 54°F (12°C) 2.2 in
November 38°F (4°C) 1.4 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 0.9 in

Council Bluffs has a seasonal temperature swing of 54°F / from 24°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.3") and January the driest (0.8").

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