Council Bluffs, IA vs Ottumwa, IA

Ottumwa is moderately more affordable than Council Bluffs, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Council Bluffs scores 76 compared to 68 for Ottumwa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Council Bluffs can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Council Bluffs is $980/month compared to $956/month in Ottumwa — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottumwa is more affordable at $92,400 median vs $164,300.

Median household income in Council Bluffs is $64,092 compared to $56,994 in Ottumwa (+12.5%). While Council Bluffs is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Council Bluffs spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 20.1% in Ottumwa.