ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 51501

Part of Council Bluffs, IA

Pop. 34,618·Pottawattamie County·15th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,374/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.1%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

-$558

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 51501 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 51501 · $1,374

More affordable than 82% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$960

1 BR

$1,020

2 BR

$1,210

3 BR

$1,600

4 BR+

$1,810

Research median

$1,210/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 51501 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 51501 changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,843) is $1,496 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,210); a 3-bedroom is $1,600.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 68102, 4 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,235/mo), about $1,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 51501. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,488/yr

At $1,374/mo median

Location

CityCouncil Bluffs

StateIA

CountyPottawattamie County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.1% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 51501 (Council Bluffs, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 16% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,618

Median income

$59,843

Median age

Renters

36.2%

Age distribution

22.7%

23.2%

24.6%

13.3%

16.2%

Under 1822.7%

18–3423.2%

35–5424.6%

55–6413.3%

65+16.2%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

82.8%

16%

White82.8%

Black1.7%

Hispanic16%

Asian1.7%

Education (25+)

14.8%

38.9%

30.3%

16%

No HS diploma14.8%

HS diploma38.9%

Some college30.3%

Bachelor's+16%

Housing tenure

63.8%

36.2%

Owner63.8%

Renter36.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 51501 in Council Bluffs, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,072 → $1,374

up 28.2%

Income

$53,238 → $59,843

up 12.4%

Population

35,051 → 34,618

down 1.2%

Renter share

35.5% → 36.2%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

14.2% → 16%

+1.8 pts

Rent in ZIP 51501 in Council Bluffs, IA has climbed 28.2% since 2022, going from about $1,072 per month to roughly $1,374 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $53,238 in 2021 to $59,843 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 35,051 to 34,618 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.2% change. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 51501 in Council Bluffs, IA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 51501

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 51501

About renting in ZIP 51501

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 51501 covers Council Bluffs, IA. The median rent here is $1,374/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,210/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($59,843/yr), ZIP 51501 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 51501?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,374/mo in ZIP 51501. The local median household income is $59,843/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 51501?

Rent in ZIP 51501 has risen 3.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

How does ZIP 51501 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 51501 is one of the pricier among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #15 of 54 at $1,374/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 51501 changed +3.1%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.