Home Value Trail

States › Iowa › Pottawattamie County

County

Pottawattamie County

Iowa · Omaha, NE-IA metro area · 92,996 residents (2025 est.)

FHFA annual index 1978–2025Developmental county indexPermits through August 2026
FHFA house price index for Pottawattamie County, 1978 to 2025, with the national index rebased to the same start and NBER recessions shadedRecession 1980Recession 1981–82Recession 1990–91Recession 2001Recession 2007–09Recession 2020020040060080019801990200020102020United States2025: 564
Pottawattamie County (100 = first year)United States, rebased to the same startNBER recession

FHFA notes: The FHFA HPI is a broad measure of the movement of single-family house prices. The FHFA HPI is a weighted, repeat-sales index, meaning that it measures average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same properties. FHFA describes its county indexes as developmental and subject to revision. The index does not give a dollar value for any home.

Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Omaha, NE-IA area), has an FHFA house price index from 1978. Through 2025 it has risen +464.0%, from 100 to 564.

Over the ten years to 2025 the index rose +87.5% (+6.5% a year), well above Iowa at +65.4% and close to the national +85.0%. The Omaha, NE-IA area rose +89.8%. The latest one-year change is +5.5%.

The strongest decade was the 1990s (+68.9%); the weakest the 2000s (+20.8%).

After a 2007 peak the index fell −6.7% to 2012 and regained the peak in 2016.

Builders were authorised for 612 housing units in the county in the 12 months to August 2026 (−5.7% on the previous 12 months), 6.6 units per 1,000 residents; 24% were single-family houses. Since 1995 the county has authorised 8,897 units, most in 2024.

+5.5%1 year, 2024–2025Iowa +3.2%
+51.4%5 yearsUS +47.0%
+87.5%10 years+6.5% a year annualised
+129.6%since 2000US +158.3%
612units permitted, 12 months6.6 per 1,000 residents

Same span, four levels

Change in the FHFA indexPottawattamie CountyOmaha areaIowaUnited States
1 year (2024–2025)+5.5%+2.7%+3.2%+2.8%
5 years (2020–2025)+51.4%+47.7%+41.4%+47.0%
10 years (2015–2025)+87.5%+89.8%+65.4%+85.0%
20 years (2005–2025)+93.5%+99.6%+82.3%+79.1%
Since 2000+129.6%+138.4%+119.4%+158.3%
Since 1978+464.0%+497.8%+348.9%+627.8%
10-year annualised+6.5%+6.6%+5.2%+6.3%
20-year annualised+3.4%+3.5%+3.0%+3.0%

All columns are FHFA annual all-transactions indexes over the same years.

Decade by decade

DecadeChangeUnited States
1980s (1980–1990)+34.4%+68.2%
1990s (1990–2000)+68.9%+33.9%
2000s (2000–2010)+20.8%+29.7%
2010s (2010–2020)+25.6%+35.5%
2020s so far (2020–2025)+51.4%+47.0%

FHFA reports each index with a value of 100 in its base period, the first year the area has enough transactions (1978 here). A decade's change is the index at the end of the decade divided by the index at the start, so it does not depend on the base year; the United States column covers the same years. Decades before 1978 are not shown.

Peak-to-low declines

PeakLowDeclinePeak regained
19801982−8.6%1983
20072012−6.7%2016

Building permits

Housing units authorised by building permits in Pottawattamie County, by month over the latest five years and by year since 1995.

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by month, latest 12 months0100200300Sep 2025: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2025Oct 2025: 10 units (10 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Oct 2025Nov 2025: 7 units (7 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2025Dec 2025: 11 units (11 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2025Jan 2026: 237 units (6 single-family, 231 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2026Feb 2026: 10 units (10 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2026Mar 2026: 33 units (33 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2026Apr 2026: 31 units (10 single-family, 21 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2026May 2026: 27 units (11 single-family, 16 in multi-unit buildings)May 2026Jun 2026: 113 units (20 single-family, 93 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2026Jul 2026: 62 units (9 single-family, 53 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2026Aug 2026: 63 units (12 single-family, 51 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2026

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by month, latest 12 monthssingle-family2+ unit buildings

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by month, latest 60 months0100200300Sep 2021: 0 units (0 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2021Oct 2021: 0 units (0 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2021: 0 units (0 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2021: 0 units (0 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2022: 5 units (5 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2022: 13 units (13 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2022: 21 units (13 single-family, 8 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2022: 13 units (8 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)May 2022: 13 units (13 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2022: 16 units (16 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2022: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2022: 13 units (8 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2022: 10 units (5 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2022Oct 2022: 16 units (11 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2022: 9 units (4 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2022: 3 units (3 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2023: 5 units (5 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2023: 5 units (5 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2023: 11 units (6 single-family, 5 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2023: 9 units (7 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)May 2023: 12 units (10 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2023: 16 units (16 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2023: 15 units (13 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2023: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2023: 13 units (13 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2023Oct 2023: 24 units (18 single-family, 6 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2023: 49 units (4 single-family, 45 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2023: 3 units (3 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2024: 105 units (3 single-family, 102 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2024: 7 units (3 single-family, 4 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2024: 18 units (18 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2024: 8 units (6 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)May 2024: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2024: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2024: 95 units (9 single-family, 86 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2024: 11 units (9 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2024: 10 units (10 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2024Oct 2024: 202 units (16 single-family, 186 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2024: 202 units (10 single-family, 192 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2024: 5 units (5 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2025: 4 units (4 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2025: 6 units (6 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2025: 13 units (11 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2025: 13 units (13 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)May 2025: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2025: 12 units (12 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2025: 13 units (11 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2025: 161 units (11 single-family, 150 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2025: 8 units (8 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Sep 2025Oct 2025: 10 units (10 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Nov 2025: 7 units (7 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Dec 2025: 11 units (11 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Jan 2026: 237 units (6 single-family, 231 in multi-unit buildings)Feb 2026: 10 units (10 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Mar 2026: 33 units (33 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)Apr 2026: 31 units (10 single-family, 21 in multi-unit buildings)May 2026: 27 units (11 single-family, 16 in multi-unit buildings)Jun 2026: 113 units (20 single-family, 93 in multi-unit buildings)Jul 2026: 62 units (9 single-family, 53 in multi-unit buildings)Aug 2026: 63 units (12 single-family, 51 in multi-unit buildings)

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by month, latest 60 monthssingle-family2+ unit buildings

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by year, 1995–202505001,0001995: 204 units (204 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)19951996: 294 units (294 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)1997: 270 units (270 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)1998: 288 units (288 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)1999: 406 units (333 single-family, 73 in multi-unit buildings)2000: 663 units (295 single-family, 368 in multi-unit buildings)20002001: 465 units (351 single-family, 114 in multi-unit buildings)2002: 374 units (323 single-family, 51 in multi-unit buildings)2003: 539 units (327 single-family, 212 in multi-unit buildings)2004: 452 units (418 single-family, 34 in multi-unit buildings)2005: 498 units (488 single-family, 10 in multi-unit buildings)20052006: 478 units (348 single-family, 130 in multi-unit buildings)2007: 435 units (259 single-family, 176 in multi-unit buildings)2008: 202 units (195 single-family, 7 in multi-unit buildings)2009: 184 units (177 single-family, 7 in multi-unit buildings)2010: 168 units (164 single-family, 4 in multi-unit buildings)20102011: 137 units (135 single-family, 2 in multi-unit buildings)2012: 171 units (171 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)2013: 149 units (149 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)2014: 122 units (118 single-family, 4 in multi-unit buildings)2015: 141 units (135 single-family, 6 in multi-unit buildings)20152016: 114 units (114 single-family, 0 in multi-unit buildings)2017: 133 units (127 single-family, 6 in multi-unit buildings)2018: 180 units (166 single-family, 14 in multi-unit buildings)2019: 160 units (134 single-family, 26 in multi-unit buildings)2020: 195 units (131 single-family, 64 in multi-unit buildings)20202021: 143 units (107 single-family, 36 in multi-unit buildings)2022: 138 units (106 single-family, 32 in multi-unit buildings)2023: 179 units (123 single-family, 56 in multi-unit buildings)2024: 681 units (105 single-family, 576 in multi-unit buildings)2025: 334 units (122 single-family, 212 in multi-unit buildings)2025

Housing units authorised in Pottawattamie County by year, 1995–2025single-family2+ unit buildings

Permits, 12 months to August 2026Pottawattamie CountyIowaUnited States
Housing units authorised61212,9331,418,086
Units per 1,000 residents6.64.04.1
Single-family share24%57%63%
Change on previous 12 months−5.7%−5.1%−0.1%
Units authorised since 19958,897376,86343,082,761

Population is the Census Bureau's vintage 2025 estimate. Permits authorise construction; they are not completions.

ZIP codes in Pottawattamie County

Ranked by ten-year change in the FHFA ZIP index. Where a ZIP's index ends before 2025, its spans end in that year.

ZIP1 year10 yearsSince 2000Index throughYears
51560+21.7%+120.4%+159.0%202526
51510+9.4%+109.1%+182.1%202528
51553—+104.9%+194.5%202527
51501+8.1%+94.4%+135.8%202547
51525—+92.9%—202523
51548+32.3%+91.4%—202220
51559+14.5%+89.7%+126.7%202528
51521−12.7%+84.6%—202525
51542+10.6%+84.1%+116.0%202225
51503+3.2%+82.0%+123.5%202547
51575+3.1%+78.2%+106.6%202533
51526−7.6%+75.1%+98.0%202528
51576−3.1%+71.7%+98.9%202427
51577+16.7%+56.6%—202217

Cities and permit-issuing places in Pottawattamie County

Housing units authorised in the 12 months to August 2026; places with at least 12 units in the year, or in the year before.

PlaceUnits, 12 monthsPer 1,000 residentsSingle-family
Council Bluffs5228.317%
Carter Lake3810.413%
Pottawattamie County Unincorporated Area30—100%

Questions and answers

How much have home values in Pottawattamie County risen over 10 years?

The FHFA index for Pottawattamie County rose +87.5% from 2015 to 2025, about +6.5% a year. Over 20 years: +93.5%; since 2000: +129.6%.

How does Pottawattamie County compare with Iowa and the United States?

Over the ten years to 2025: Pottawattamie County +87.5%, Iowa +65.4%, United States +85.0%, Omaha, NE-IA +89.8%.

What happened to Pottawattamie County prices in 2008?

The index peaked in 2007 and fell −6.7% to 2012; it passed the peak again in 2016. The state index fell — over —–—.

How many homes are being built in Pottawattamie County?

612 housing units were authorised by building permits in the 12 months to August 2026 (147 single-family, 450 in buildings of five or more units), or 6.6 per 1,000 residents against 4.0 for Iowa.

Where does this data come from?

The index is FHFA's annual county house price index (all-transactions, developmental), last updated March 31, 2026, with values through 2025. Permits are from the Census Bureau Building Permits Survey through August 2026; population is the Census Bureau's vintage 2025 estimate.

Provenance

Index: Federal Housing Finance Agency, annual house price index for counties (all-transactions, developmental), last updated March 31, 2026, values 1978–2025; metro, state and national comparisons from FHFA's annual indexes in the same release. Permits: Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, county and place files, through August 2026. Population: Census Bureau vintage 2025 estimates. ZIP assignment: 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file. Public domain throughout. Corrections · FHFA HPI datasets · Building Permits Survey.