1st Advantage MortgageIn Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the typical household earns $73,602 a year and the typical rent is $1,018. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Iowa license first.
On this page
- Pottawattamie County at a glance
- What Pottawattamie County households earn
- The Pottawattamie County job picture
- Renting and owning in Pottawattamie County
- The counties around Pottawattamie County
- The communities that make up Pottawattamie County
- A Pottawattamie County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Pottawattamie County
- Pottawattamie County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Pottawattamie County
- Four steps for Pottawattamie County borrowers
- More guides for Pottawattamie County
- Frequently asked questions
Pottawattamie County at a glance
Pottawattamie County is home to about 93,424 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 10th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. It covers 951 square miles of land, or about 98 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Omaha, NE-IA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 18 Census places inside Pottawattamie County, Council Bluffs leads by population with about 62,586; 15 of the 18 are incorporated.
What Pottawattamie County households earn
Half of Pottawattamie County households take in less than $73,602 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Band | Pottawattamie County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.1% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -1.7 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.428 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Pottawattamie County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Pottawattamie County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (8% against 5%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Pottawattamie County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | -3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Pottawattamie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,018 in Pottawattamie County versus $972 statewide. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $195,700, about 2.7 times the median household income. 70% of Pottawattamie County households own their home and 30% rent. Median construction year: 1967.
| Pottawattamie County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,018/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $195,700 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
The counties around Pottawattamie County
Mills County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Douglas County, is 32 miles off. Mills County leads the group on income ($90,753), Cass County trails ($63,013), and Pottawattamie County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pottawattamie County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottawattamie County | - | $73,602 | $1,018/mo | 70% |
| Mills County, IA | 22 mi | $90,753 | $959/mo | 84% |
| Shelby County, IA | 26 mi | $72,738 | $783/mo | 78% |
| Harrison County, IA | 28 mi | $79,535 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Montgomery County, IA | 30 mi | $63,666 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Cass County, IA | 32 mi | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
| Douglas County, NE | 32 mi | $80,391 | $1,201/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Pottawattamie County
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in Pottawattamie County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 77,490 people, so roughly 17% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $62,500 in Walnut to $121,696 in Treynor. Median rent ranges from $700 in Minden to $1,323 in Carter Lake. Live in one of these Pottawattamie County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs | city | 62,586 | $64,578 | $1,030 | 18 mi |
| Carter Lake | city | 3,767 | $85,349 | $1,323 | 20 mi |
| Avoca | city | 1,444 | $73,056 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Oakland | city | 1,408 | $81,354 | $878 | 8 mi |
| Walnut | city | 1,342 | $62,500 | $874 | 20 mi |
| Treynor | city | 1,126 | $121,696 | $1,122 | 8 mi |
| Neola | city | 1,116 | $73,306 | $968 | 9 mi |
| Underwood | city | 898 | $105,341 | $1,063 | 8 mi |
| Carson | city | 834 | $73,403 | $744 | 10 mi |
| Shelby | city | 752 | $63,654 | $840 | 12 mi |
| Minden | city | 630 | $109,167 | $700 | 9 mi |
| Crescent | city | 549 | $116,042 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Macedonia | city | 249 | $71,042 | $775 | 12 mi |
| Hancock | city | 216 | $82,083 | $922 | 10 mi |
A Pottawattamie County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pottawattamie County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,134 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,018, which is 17% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,190 a month
- $1,619: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Pottawattamie County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pottawattamie County borrowers.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Pottawattamie County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Pottawattamie County households compared
24% of Pottawattamie County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Pottawattamie County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Pottawattamie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Four steps for Pottawattamie County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Pottawattamie County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Pottawattamie County?
$73,602 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 34th of 99 in the state.
How much is rent in Pottawattamie County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,018 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Pottawattamie County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Avoca, Oakland, Walnut and 13 more.
Will a Pottawattamie County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Iowa as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pottawattamie County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.