Retiring in Council Bluffs, IA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

86°/18°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$230,767

Housing (Typical Value)

420.8

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is Council Bluffs Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 62,564, Council Bluffs offers a smaller-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Lower housing costs
Moderate city size
Low wildfire risk
Low earthquake risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated tornado risk

Potential advantages. The typical home value is $230,767, 38% below the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $980 per month, 30% below the $1,400 per month US median. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to wildfire and earthquake.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 86°F. The reported violent crime rate is 420.8 per 100,000, 17% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 2465.1 per 100,000, 40% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign an elevated risk designation to tornado.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)86°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)18°F

Annual snowfall27.1"

Annual precipitation31.9"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$230,76738% below the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$980/mo30% below the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate420.8 /100,00017% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate2465.1 /100,00040% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate330.8 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalChi Health Mercy Hospital (3.1 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessAdequate (2,222 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index7.8/20 (Below Average)

Population & City Size

Population62,564Classified as a smaller city

Elevation979 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively Moderate

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneN/A

WildfireRelatively Low

EarthquakeVery Low

Ice stormsRelatively Moderate

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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