[jude3]

I'll be working in Omaha was interested in info/opinions about living in CB Iowa. Right now if I decide on Omaha it will be the Pappilion area (thanks Dave), but was also wondering about CB Iowa. Public schools & affordable housing are my primary concern. When it comes to housing CB seems like you get a bigger bang for your buck with less taxes, unsure on the school system. Also is there a double tax working in Omaha & living in Iowa? thanks.

[TheCML]

Originally Posted by jude3

I'll be working in Omaha was interested in info/opinions about living in CB Iowa. Right now if I decide on Omaha it will be the Pappilion area (thanks Dave), but was also wondering about CB Iowa. Public schools & affordable housing are my primary concern. When it comes to housing CB seems like you get a bigger bang for your buck with less taxes, unsure on the school system. Also is there a double tax working in Omaha & living in Iowa? thanks.

You will def. get a lot more for your money in Council Bluffs. Dont buy into the things that people say about it being dirty and run down and full of hicks. Does it have its share of all that? Sure. But the East side of town actually has a lot of very nice houses, and if you dont mind being a little ways from work, (I commuted from east CB to 72nd st every day, and it only took 15 minutes.) Then it is a good choice. The Council Bluffs school distict while not in the top tier of Iowa school districts is good non the less.

[Dave1215]

If you live in one state and work in the other you will have to file tax returns for both states. You won't be double taxed, as they try to prorate what's due each, but you will probably pay more. I did it for a few years and I do think it cost a little extra.

Be careful with CB, there are parts that are old and run down. Also, adult entertainment outlets to deal with that you don't have in the Nebraska suburbs.

As the previous post mentioned there are a few nice areas, but be careful. Can't back it up, but I would also say CB schools are a notch below Lavista/Papillion, Bellevue, Ralston.

[EastCB]

I have lived in CB for 9 years after having lived in Omaha for 11. I have no regrets about moving. I feel totally safe anywhere in town. Yes there are some run down areas but every town has thier share. As for taxes, I am in a much better situation now. Schools?? My kids got a very good education. 4.00 now at ISU. They must have done something good!!!! Also, my comute now has no sun in my eyes!!!!!!

[Dave1215]

There is no doubt that there are good things in CB and that there are bad areas in Omaha metro.

CB and Papillion really are two different areas.
CB is more of a blue collar metro area (lower education, lower income, higher poverty, lower property value, more divorce, etc) while Papillion is more of a white collar suburb (higher education, higer income, little poverty, higher property value, less divorce).

For the quickest/easiest comparison between the two just take a look at the city profiles on City-Data.com's site itself. These are a year or two old, but do give you some data. Here are the direct links in you want to reference them: Council Bluffs Data vs Papillion Data You can question some of the stats and reasons behind them, also could find more current stats, but at least this is an apples-to-apples comparison with consistent and reliabledata source.

2005 Median Household Income
CB: $41,000
Papillion $71,100

Residents Below Poverty Level (this is a dated stat - '99, but proportions probably still close)
CB 4.8%
Papillion 2.7%

2005 Median House Value
CB: $105,100
Papillion: $165,700
Note: Both of these are a little skewed. In CB there are some very very nice homes that are well above the Papillion Median. In Papillion there is such a large range with some towards CB median and some way beyond. Take this for what it is - an average of a wide spectrum. I think the CB is dragged down by the old homes in core CB - factor out those areas and I think you'd jump quite a bit.


Education over age 25
CB High School 81.3%
CB College 13.9%
CB Graduate School 4.5%

Papillion High School 95.3%
Papillion College 38.1%
Papillion Graduate School 15.1%

Unemployment (a little dated)
CB 4.6%
Papillion 1.9%

Mean Travel Time to Work
CB 17.9 minutes
Papillion 18.9 minutes

Relationships
CB Never Married 26.4%
CB Now Married 50.6%
CB Seperated or Divorced 15.3
CB Widowed 7.7%

Papillion Never Married 23.0%
Papillion Now Married 65.7%
Papillion Seperated or Divorced 6.7%
Papillion Widowed 4.6%

2006 Crime Index (Higher means more crime, US ave is 323.3)
CB 662.9
Papillion 99.0 (low crime was a stated reason Papillion was named 6th Best City in US by CNN/Money magazine this year)

P.S. Not sure of your social stance, but two significant differences between CB area and Papillion. Depending on your "bent" one could be better than the other for you.
CB has licensed Adult Entertainment and Large Casinos
Papillion has no Adult Entertainment and so far Nebraska doesn't allow casinos.

[ehenningsen]

Council Bluffs has some neat things that are geared more towards mature (immature to some) adults, the Nebraska side is geared towards everyone but caps to casino's and somewhat to the adult-only entertainment industry.

[Happygolucky]

Remember, if you move into CB,IA you won't have to pay the up and coming $50.00 a month sewer renovation fees required by every household in the Omaha City Limits. You still can take all the benifits of Omaha and not have to pay for it.
Plus I agree every town has it's good and bad neighborhoods......choose wisely.

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by Happygolucky

Remember, if you move into CB,IA you won't have to pay the up and coming $50.00 a month sewer renovation fees required by every household in the Omaha City Limits. You still can take all the benifits of Omaha and not have to pay for it.
Plus I agree every town has it's good and bad neighborhoods......choose wisely.

Are you sure CB doesn't also have combined sewer/stormwater systems? That was a common method of engineering and I think the current federal mandate is just hitting larger areas first. Could be CB will have to face the music too.

[ehenningsen]

For some reason, there are a few citizens in Omaha that believe that this is an Omaha only problem, but the truth is that there were several cities before Omaha that failed inspections, and there is many more to follow..

[Happygolucky]

Originally Posted by ehenningsen

For some reason, there are a few citizens in Omaha that believe that this is an Omaha only problem, but the truth is that there were several cities before Omaha that failed inspections, and there is many more to follow..

Yes, you are right, but this is an Omaha Forum and we are talking about Omaha not other cities. And this effects every single household in the Omaha City Limits.