Population 93,424 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pottawattamie County
Household size in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.61 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.62 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.61 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.57 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Pottawattamie County run small, averaging 2.45 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the center. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Pottawattamie County has larger households than most.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 36.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.6 | 36.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 37.4 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.1 | 37.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.1, the median age in Pottawattamie County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the Omaha area as a whole, where the median age is 37.7. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 11.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 11.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 10.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Pottawattamie County (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Pottawattamie County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Iowa counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Pottawattamie County
Renters in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 31.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 33.9% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.6% | 34.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.1% | 33.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Pottawattamie County rent their homes (30.1%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About four in ten owners (40.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the north. The renter share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 7.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 6.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Pottawattamie County than nationally: 7.3%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, as it has nationally. Pottawattamie County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Iowa counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1973 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1974 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1975 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1979 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Pottawattamie County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $703 | $844 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $803 | $938 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $886 | $1,042 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,056 | $1,337 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$353 | +$493 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pottawattamie County pays $1,056 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $353 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Pottawattamie County
Bachelor's degrees in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 34.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 34.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.4% | 36.8% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 39.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Pottawattamie County: 23.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 91.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 91.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 91.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 92.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Pottawattamie County have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Omaha area (92.5%). The share with a diploma is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Pottawattamie County
| Period | Pottawattamie County | Omaha area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 5.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Pottawattamie County than nationally: unemployment was 3.7%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Pottawattamie County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottawattamie County | 2.45 | 41.1 | 11.3% | 30.1% | 7.3% | 1967 | $1,056 | 23.9% | 90.6% | 3.7% |
| Douglas County | 2.55 | 36.7 | 11.6% | 38.5% | 6.3% | 1977 | $1,396 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 4.1% |
| Sarpy County | 2.71 | 37.0 | 9.5% | 29.6% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,451 | 43.2% | 95.6% | 2.5% |
| Saunders County | 2.62 | 40.4 | 7.8% | 17.9% | 12.0% | 1970 | $989 | 33.3% | 97.0% | 3.0% |
| Cass County | 2.23 | 45.1 | 9.9% | 28.4% | 9.5% | 1950 | $797 | 21.7% | 94.4% | 1.5% |
| Adair County | 2.26 | 43.1 | 6.6% | 26.1% | 9.1% | 1957 | $855 | 19.6% | 94.7% | 3.6% |
| Butler County | 2.37 | 41.8 | 4.9% | 20.1% | 12.5% | 1964 | $901 | 23.8% | 91.0% | 1.2% |
| Polk County | 2.44 | 45.0 | 6.1% | 21.1% | 14.5% | 1957 | $730 | 20.3% | 94.0% | 1.2% |
| Madison County | 2.57 | 40.8 | 10.3% | 19.9% | 6.4% | 1977 | $1,076 | 27.0% | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| Merrick County | 2.38 | 43.1 | 6.8% | 17.8% | 10.8% | 1965 | $842 | 19.0% | 91.7% | 0.3% |
| Howard County | 2.60 | 41.7 | 10.8% | 21.8% | 16.3% | 1961 | $939 | 25.6% | 96.0% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Allen County, OH · Marshall County, AL · Madison County, TN · Lincoln County, NC · Limestone County, AL · Liberty County, TX · Lenawee County, MI · Lawrence County, PA · Lauderdale County, AL · Laramie County, WY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Pottawattamie County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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