Council Bluffs or NEB side of Omaha (Des Moines, Glenwood: houses, rent)

[bls5555]

Anyone have any thoughts on the better of the 2 locations? I have 2 kids who will be starting up kindergarten so I am looking for some good schools and nice family neighborhoods. Preferably under 200K houses. I HATE the new subdivision type houses, so I would be looking for a more established neighborhood. THanks for the help.

[bdcthlc]

I live in Council Bluffs, in an older, established neighborhood. I love it here. You can definitely find older houses (lots of character!) for sale in many of the older neighborhoods in town. The schools are good here, and include some Christian elementary schools and St. Albert's Catholic school system.

I like living in CB because of its small town feel. It has the Mall of the Bluffs and two additional malls going in along I-80/I-29. Traffic isn't bad: I work off 72nd street in Omaha and it only takes me 15-20 minutes to get there (and that's including dropping my husband off at his work on 30th in Omaha).

We have lower taxes and gas prices than Omaha. Our police do a pretty good job with keeping down the crime rate. The casinos that draw Omahans help pay for projects in CB. The only thing I'd change is our lack of good restaurants. We do sometimes end up in Omaha for that. But, that's another thing that's great about CB. We can take full advantage of the "BIG CITY" and then come back here and tuck ourselves in for the night!

A lot of good things are happening here.

[surfzup87]

I live in Omaha! And if you'd like to be viewed as a parasite who justs hops over the bridge and steals our resources, then move to Council Bluffs! But, if you want your kids to be associated with casinos, plants, and rude people live in Council Bluffs. Omaha has many private schools which are affordable and your children can attend. Although I do not recommend using the public school system in Omaha, I do NOT recommend using it in Council Bluffs either. There are too many railroad tracks your kids will have to cross, too many hobos and way to many people going way to fast down residential streets. Their are plenty of quiet neighborhoods in Omaha. We are the largest city in the surrounding area. Why come to Omaha then have to leave every day, doesn't that get time consuming! Just stay here and live here!!!

[Steve_W]

I definitely think you're going to have to visit and see for yourself. It is very different from C.B. to Omaha. Both have good things and both have bad things. Like I always tell people, Glenwood, Ia is 10 Minutes from C.B. located in the Loess Hills with a good school system. The town is around 8,000 and quickly growing. Plenty of new or established neighborhoods to choose from. Good Luck.

[dmguy30]

If you want a small town, I'd look at Treynor (1000 people). It's located 10 minutes east of CB. They recently topped the entire state for their test scores. They also are good at athletics (but put academics first).

Council Bluffs has changed a lot in the past 20 years. It's a great community to be a part of. With the arrival of all the new stores and restaurants in the next couple of years, you won't have much of need to cross the river.

Also, most Omahan's won't think of you as a parasite (I can't believe some people even think that way). After all, it IS the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area.

[RonnieJonez]

Obviously Council Bluffs! It's closer to Omaha's Arch Nemesis, Des Moines!

[SoCiEtY's ReBel]

Council Bluffs has the best Blimpies in the whole world - Seriously. If you've ever eaten at the Blimpie on E. Broadway then you know what Im talking about... The bread is always soft, the veggies always crisp and fresh, the meat freshly sliced right in front of u, just the right amount of creamy chipotle mayonaise and oil, vinegar, and oregano... The people are usually very polite and you can use a coupon found on the back of a No Frills receipt to get a free 6" or 12" with purchase of another 6" or 12" and a drink... Awesome, absolutely the best sub sandwich i have ever had.