The Town FilesMuscatine, Iowa
City in Muscatine County · population 23,797 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,600
- Household income
- $58,117
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 37.0
Muscatine is a city of 23,797 people in Muscatine County, Iowa. The median home is worth $153,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Iowa towns, better transit than 93% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 92% of Iowa towns.
How Muscatine ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Muscatine is worth $153,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $58,117, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $974 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Muscatine | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $974 | $820 |
| Median household income | $58,117 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Muscatine
| People | Muscatine | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Muscatine
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muscatine since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2007 about 0.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 1975.
Severe weather in Muscatine County since 1996
Muscatine County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Muscatine County
Muscatine County had 21,234 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,594 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Muscatine itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Muscatine
9 public schools with 4,421 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscatine High School | 9-12 | 1,470 | 16.2 |
| Susan Clark Junior High | 7-8 | 599 | 11.7 |
| McKinley Elementary School | K-6 | 430 | 13.4 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | K-6 | 421 | 12.8 |
| Madison Elementary School | K-6 | 388 | 13.9 |
| Grant Elementary School | K-6 | 301 | 14.3 |
| Franklin Elementary School | K-6 | 288 | 11.1 |
| Mulberry Elementary School | K-6 | 280 | 15.6 |
| Muskie Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 244 | 20.3 |
Towns near Muscatine
- Wilton, IA12.0 mi · 2,924 people · home $189,200
- West Liberty, IA14.7 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
- West Branch, IA22.3 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- Aledo, IL22.6 mi · 3,633 people · home $147,600
- Tipton, IA24.5 mi · 3,149 people · home $165,500
- Rock Island, IL25.2 mi · 37,108 people · home $125,900
- Davenport, IA25.8 mi · 101,724 people · home $166,400
- Milan, IL26.2 mi · 5,097 people · home $119,300
Muscatine questions
Is Muscatine, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Muscatine scores better for retirees than 4% of Iowa towns and quieter than 8%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Muscatine?
The median owner-occupied home in Muscatine is valued at $153,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,117, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $974 a month.
What is the weather like in Muscatine?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.5 inches of snow.
Does Muscatine get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muscatine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)