Muscatine
Iowa

What stands out

If you had to describe Muscatine County in numbers, start here: the property tax rate is in the top 10% of American counties (1.64%) and violent crime is in the bottom 13% of American counties (3.1 per 1,000). Within Iowa it ranks 9th of 99 counties for the property tax rate.

Where you are

You live in Muscatine County, Iowa. 42,968 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.4% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -281).

Iowa cut its income tax to a flat 3.8% in 2025 and stopped taxing retirement income for residents 55 and over in 2023, including pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. It still has an inheritance tax, but that is being phased out and ends for deaths after 2024. Winters are long and the state's economy still moves with corn, soybean and hog prices.

Money

The typical household here brings in $67,427 a year, higher than 69% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $63,594. Unemployment runs 3.0%, lower than 67% of American counties. 5% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 18 minutes each way.

Iowa takes 3.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,562 a year.

Home

The median home costs $203K, cheaper than 62% of American counties, about 1.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $931 a month. Property tax is 1.64% of home value, roughly $2,608 a year on that median home, higher than 90% of American counties. 75% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, lower than 87% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 13 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 76.8 years, longer than 62% of American counties. There are 18 active physicians in the county, about 4.2 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 6.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.93 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 62% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 7 points. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under Iowa law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 51°F, highs near 62 and lows near 40, colder than 71% of American counties. About 36 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 55 out of 100, riskier than 55% of American counties; the county has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 199 Mbps down, faster than 50% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries.