ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 51503

Part of Council Bluffs, IA

Pop. 37,972·Pottawattamie County·26th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,254/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.7%

Month-over-Month

-0.7%

vs US Median

-$678

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 51503 · $1,254

More affordable than 89% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$920

1 BR

$970

2 BR

$1,160

3 BR

$1,540

4 BR+

$1,730

Research median

$1,160/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 51503 is 0.9% below its high of $1,265 in June 2026, at $1,254 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 51503 changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($79,010) is $1,975 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,730).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 68005, 8 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,055/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 51503. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,048/yr

At $1,254/mo median

Location

CityCouncil Bluffs

StateIA

CountyPottawattamie County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.7% YoY, -0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 51503 (Council Bluffs, IA) is majority owner-occupied, 30.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,972

Median income

$79,010

Median age

40.6

Renters

31.4%

Age distribution

22.9%

20%

24.4%

13.2%

19.5%

Under 1822.9%

18–3420%

35–5424.4%

55–6413.2%

65+19.5%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

89.6%

White89.6%

Black3.1%

Hispanic5%

Other1.9%

Education (25+)

30.5%

32.7%

30.5%

No HS diploma6.2%

HS diploma30.5%

Some college32.7%

Bachelor's+30.5%

Housing tenure

68.6%

31.4%

Owner68.6%

Renter31.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 51503 in Council Bluffs, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$70,741 → $79,010

up 11.7%

Population

37,408 → 37,972

up 1.5%

Renter share

31.2% → 31.4%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

30.4% → 30.5%

+0.1 pts

Median age

41.1 → 40.6

-0.5 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $79,010 today, compared with $70,741 five years earlier. The population has grown by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 37,408 residents to roughly 37,972.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 51503

About renting in ZIP 51503

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 51503 covers Council Bluffs, IA. The median rent here is $1,254/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($79,010/yr), ZIP 51503 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 51503?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,254/mo in ZIP 51503. The local median household income is $79,010/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 51503?

Rent in ZIP 51503 has risen 2.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $1,265 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 51503 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 51503 is in the middle among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #26 of 54 at $1,254/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 51503 changed +2.7%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.