1st Advantage MortgageMuscatine County households have a median income of $69,396 and median rent of $971 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Muscatine County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Muscatine County
- Income in Muscatine County compared with Iowa
- The Muscatine County job picture
- Muscatine County towns compared
- Muscatine County next to its neighbors
- A Muscatine County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Muscatine County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Muscatine County borrowers
- A Muscatine County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Muscatine County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Muscatine County at a glance
Muscatine County is home to about 42,559 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 14th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Land area is 437 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 97 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Muscatine County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Muscatine is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 23,489 people (55% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Muscatine County
A typical Muscatine County rental runs $971 a month including utilities. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $182,100, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Muscatine County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $971/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $182,100 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 3.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Muscatine County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Muscatine County compared with Iowa
Muscatine County households have a median income of $69,396 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 57th of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Muscatine County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.7% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -3.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.7%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.1%. A household earning below the $69,396 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Muscatine County job picture
Manufacturing employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward manufacturing (27% against 15%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 80% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Muscatine County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27.0% | +12.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Muscatine County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Muscatine County towns compared
13 Census places fall mainly inside Muscatine County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 37,195 residents, leaving about 13% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $121,971 at the median in Kent Estates, $58,117 in Muscatine. No Muscatine County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscatine | city | 23,489 | $58,117 | $974 | 5 mi |
| West Liberty | city | 3,776 | $69,345 | $1,038 | 10 mi |
| Wilton | city | 2,920 | $76,648 | $805 | 9 mi |
| Durant | city | 1,946 | $81,625 | $784 | 13 mi |
| Kent Estates | CDP | 1,848 | $121,971 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Fruitland | city | 1,049 | $103,424 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Moscow | CDP | 614 | $87,181 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Conesville | city | 439 | $68,750 | $994 | 14 mi |
| Nichols | city | 373 | $72,813 | $689 | 10 mi |
| Atalissa | city | 253 | $67,188 | $775 | 7 mi |
| Montpelier | CDP | 209 | $70,938 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Stockton | city | 170 | $49,500 | $825 | 15 mi |
| Fairport | CDP | 109 | $108,393 | n/a | 11 mi |
Muscatine County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Louisa County at 20 miles out to Rock Island County at 28. Income ranges from $67,159 in Rock Island County to $80,602 in Cedar County; 5 of these neighbors top Muscatine County's median. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Muscatine County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscatine County | - | $69,396 | $971/mo | 74% |
| Louisa County, IA | 20 mi | $77,354 | $775/mo | 80% |
| Cedar County, IA | 20 mi | $80,602 | $879/mo | 81% |
| Mercer County, IL | 27 mi | $74,182 | $786/mo | 84% |
| Johnson County, IA | 28 mi | $74,935 | $1,122/mo | 59% |
| Scott County, IA | 28 mi | $78,277 | $1,005/mo | 70% |
| Rock Island County, IL | 28 mi | $67,159 | $889/mo | 70% |
A Muscatine County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Muscatine County's medians:
- Start: $5,783 gross per month ($69,396 / 12)
- Median rent: $971, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,516: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $971, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Muscatine County, in numbers
23% of Muscatine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.3%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| People and households | Muscatine County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Muscatine County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
What the numbers mean for Muscatine County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Muscatine County borrowers.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Muscatine County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Muscatine County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Muscatine County
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Muscatine County?
$69,396 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 57th of 99 in the state.
What do renters pay in Muscatine County?
$971 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Muscatine County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Muscatine County?
By population: Muscatine, West Liberty, Wilton, Durant, Kent Estates. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Muscatine County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.