Council Bluffs vs Waukee
Council Bluffs, Iowa versus Waukee, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Council Bluffs and Waukee score about the same overall (43 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Council Bluffs | Waukee |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $61k | $107k |
| Cost of Living | $53k | $51k |
| Home Value | $153k | $305k |
| Monthly Rent | $964 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.89% | 1.69% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.02% | 13.12% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 77°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5 in | 37.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1 in | 36.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 228 days | 194 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 67 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 61.9 | 45.9 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 59.3 | 66.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1487/100k | 650/100k |
| Property Crime | 3001/100k | 726/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 62,670 | 25,045 |
| Median Age | 38.4 | 34.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.21 | 0.30 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | R+12 | Even |
| White (%) | 83.4% | 80.7% |
| Black (%) | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 10.3% | 4.8% |
| Asian (%) | 1.2% | 6.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.1% | 4.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 8.5/20 | 8.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 6 mi | 106 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.5% | 91.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 22.34 | 57.10 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Council Bluffs or Waukee more affordable?
- Waukee has the lower cost of living: its index is $51k, compared with Council Bluffs's $53k and Waukee's $51k. Median rent is $964 in Council Bluffs versus $1k in Waukee.
- Is Council Bluffs or Waukee safer?
- Waukee has the lower violent crime rate. Council Bluffs reports 1487/100k and Waukee reports 650/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Council Bluffs or Waukee?
- The median home value is $153k in Council Bluffs and $305k in Waukee, so homes are more affordable in Council Bluffs.