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Living in
Muscatine.
About
Life in Muscatine
Muscatine is a community of 23,567 people in Iowa. The median household income is $58,117, median rent runs about $979 per month, and median home values are around $153,600. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Muscatine at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Muscatine: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Muscatine, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.0%), and 11.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
38.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Muscatine
In Muscatine, home values are 26% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,556
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $194,403 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Muscatine
Unemployment in Muscatine County, which includes Muscatine, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Muscatine: Muscatine County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Muscatine County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Muscatine Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.3 min avg
How Muscatine residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Muscatine, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Quad City International Airport (MLI)
Regional airport · few flights342k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 44% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Muscatine runs 44% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
185.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
936
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Muscatine Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
57.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Muscatine County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Muscatine County, which includes Muscatine, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Muscatine County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Muscatine County, which includes Muscatine, is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
122
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Muscatine County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Muscatine has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.0"
Annual Snowfall
23.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 13°F | 1.51" |
| Feb | 36°F | 17°F | 1.78" |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 2.55" |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.82" |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 5.11" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.46" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.25" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 4.26" |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.91" |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 3.04" |
| Nov | 49°F | 30°F | 2.28" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 2.00" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Muscatine
Muscatine has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Trinity Muscatine
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Muscatine
Muscatine's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Muscatine
Muscatine has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in Muscatine
Musser Public Library
408 E 2nd St, Muscatine
Cities Near Muscatine
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Muscatine?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Muscatine FAQ
Is Muscatine, Iowa affordable?⌄
Muscatine's median rent is $974/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,117/year. Median home value is $153,600.
Is Muscatine, Iowa safe?⌄
Muscatine's violent crime rate was 186 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 936 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Muscatine, Iowa?⌄
Muscatine County, which includes Muscatine, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Muscatine, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Muscatine is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $974/month and median household income is $58,117/year. The median home value is $153,600. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Muscatine, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Muscatine is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from