Muscatine County scores 64.6 on the composite index, significantly exceeding the national median of 50.0 and ranking well above most U.S. counties for livability. Despite being the lowest-scoring county in this eight-county group, Muscatine still delivers above-average quality of life nationally. The county reflects solid American livability standards.
2 / 5
Below Iowa average, needs improvement
At 64.6, Muscatine County falls below Iowa's state average of 69.3, ranking it among Iowa's weaker performers in this comparison. The gap signals that while the county meets national standards, it underperforms its Iowa peers on composite livability. Muscatine faces statewide competitive pressure.
3 / 5
Health outcomes remain solid
Muscatine County's strongest dimensions are Health (75.8) and Cost (75.2), indicating good healthcare access and moderate housing affordability. Median home value of $172,400 and median rent of $966/month are reasonable for the region. The county delivers acceptable healthcare and housing options.
4 / 5
Risk management is critical weakness
Muscatine's Risk score of 42.3 is dramatically low, indicating significant environmental, economic, or climate vulnerability that substantially drags down overall livability. This score is particularly concerning compared to peer counties scoring 60-89 on risk. The county faces substantial resilience challenges that require attention.
5 / 5
Choose with risk awareness
Muscatine County suits those comfortable with higher environmental or economic risk in exchange for moderate housing costs and solid health access. The county's low risk score should signal caution to families seeking maximum stability and resilience. This choice requires accepting vulnerability in exchange for modest livability gains.
Muscatine County scores 64.6 on the composite index, significantly exceeding the national median of 50.0 and ranking well above most U.S. counties for livability. Despite being the lowest-scoring county in this eight-county group, Muscatine still delivers above-average quality of life nationally. The county reflects solid American livability standards.
Below Iowa average, needs improvement
At 64.6, Muscatine County falls below Iowa's state average of 69.3, ranking it among Iowa's weaker performers in this comparison. The gap signals that while the county meets national standards, it underperforms its Iowa peers on composite livability. Muscatine faces statewide competitive pressure.
Health outcomes remain solid
Muscatine County's strongest dimensions are Health (75.8) and Cost (75.2), indicating good healthcare access and moderate housing affordability. Median home value of $172,400 and median rent of $966/month are reasonable for the region. The county delivers acceptable healthcare and housing options.
Risk management is critical weakness
Muscatine's Risk score of 42.3 is dramatically low, indicating significant environmental, economic, or climate vulnerability that substantially drags down overall livability. This score is particularly concerning compared to peer counties scoring 60-89 on risk. The county faces substantial resilience challenges that require attention.
Choose with risk awareness
Muscatine County suits those comfortable with higher environmental or economic risk in exchange for moderate housing costs and solid health access. The county's low risk score should signal caution to families seeking maximum stability and resilience. This choice requires accepting vulnerability in exchange for modest livability gains.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛58.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Muscatine County's effective tax rate of 1.547% significantly exceeds the 1.1% national median, placing it in roughly the 78th percentile nationwide. The median property tax of $2,667 nearly matches the national median of $2,690 despite a lower median home value of $172,400.
High effective rate for Iowa
Muscatine County's 1.547% effective tax rate ranks well above Iowa's state average of 1.344%, making it one of the state's higher-tax counties. The median tax bill of $2,667 exceeds Iowa's statewide median of $2,160 by 23%.
Steeper taxes than most surrounding counties
Muscatine County's 1.547% rate exceeds Mitchell County (1.156%), Monona County (1.152%), and O'Brien County (0.989%), though it falls below Montgomery County (1.791%). Among counties with comparable home values, Muscatine residents face notably elevated effective rates.
Muscatine median home tax hits $2,667 yearly
A median-valued home in Muscatine County at $172,400 carries an estimated annual property tax of $2,667 under the county's 1.547% rate. This tax bill approaches what many national homeowners pay despite living in a region with lower median values.
Tax appeals offer real savings opportunity
With above-average effective rates, Muscatine County residents should prioritize assessment reviews to ensure valuations are accurate and defensible. Successful appeals in high-rate counties deliver years of cumulative tax savings.
Muscatine County faces housing affordability crisis
Muscatine County renters spend 16.7% of income on housing—well into the national stress zone and above the healthy 12-15% range—indicating genuine affordability strain. With a median household income of $69,512, residents are stretched thin by rents averaging $966 monthly, the region's highest.
Worst affordability in Iowa among eight counties
Muscatine County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.7% significantly exceeds Iowa's state average of 14.1%, making it the least affordable county in this eight-county cohort. Renters here pay $966 monthly—the region's highest rent by a substantial margin—pushing housing costs into genuinely difficult territory.
Regional leader in housing stress
Muscatine County renters spend 16.7% of income on housing compared to 12.1% in Mills County and 12.9% in Mitchell County—a 4-6 percentage point gap that translates to real monthly struggle. Only Monona County (15.2%) approaches Muscatine's affordability crisis, making both outliers in the region.
Both rents and mortgages strain budgets
Muscatine County renters pay 16.7% of their $69,512 income toward $966 monthly rent, while homebuyers invest $1,030 monthly on properties worth $172,400. Both pathways demand substantial income percentages, suggesting systemic housing affordability challenges across the county's entire market.
Compare carefully before relocating here
Muscatine County demands caution: housing costs consume a larger share of income than any neighboring county, and both renting and buying strain household budgets significantly. If considering relocation to Iowa, the seven surrounding counties offer substantially better affordability profiles for your money.
Muscatine County's median household income of $69,512 falls $5,243 short of the national median of $74,755, a 7% gap. The county remains relatively close to typical American household income despite rural headwinds.
Just below average in Iowa
Muscatine County ranks just below the state average with a median household income of $69,512, compared to Iowa's $69,830 state median. The county sits squarely within Iowa's typical income range.
Muscatine matches neighboring county incomes
Muscatine County households earn $1,808 more than Mitchell County ($68,704) and $4,882 less than Monroe County ($72,518). The county sits comfortably within Iowa's regional income distribution.
A 16.7% rent-to-income ratio means Muscatine County residents spend roughly $167 monthly in rent per $1,000 of income—the highest ratio among the eight counties analyzed. While below the 30% stress threshold, housing costs consume a meaningful share of limited household income.
Reduce housing burden to build wealth
With relatively modest incomes and above-average housing cost ratios, Muscatine County families should focus on reducing housing expenses to free cash for saving. Explore refinancing options, consider roommate arrangements, or investigate down payment assistance for homeownership as pathways to long-term financial security.
At 76.7 years, Muscatine County residents live just 1.0 year below the U.S. average of 77.7 years—a relatively narrow gap. The 16.4% poor/fair health rate is close to national averages, suggesting typical health burden patterns for a county of its size.
Mid-range health outcomes statewide
Muscatine County's 76.7-year life expectancy is 1.0 year below Iowa's 77.7-year state average, placing it in the middle tier of Iowa counties. The 16.4% poor/fair health rate is moderate for the state, reflecting manageable but not exceptional population health.
Moderate performer in peer comparison
Muscatine County's 76.7-year life expectancy ranks in the middle of the region, ahead of Monona (75.0) and Monroe (75.3) but behind Mitchell (79.3). The 16.4% poor/fair health rate is comparable to peers, indicating typical health management challenges.
Good coverage with accessible mental health
Muscatine County's 5.4% uninsured rate is better than Iowa's 5.7% average, meaning most residents have insurance access. The county provides 38 primary care providers and 88 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, with particularly strong mental health capacity supporting behavioral health needs.
Secure your coverage today
At 5.4% uninsured, Muscatine County has strong baseline coverage, but individuals should verify their status. Visit healthcare.gov or call your county health department to confirm coverage and access the county's robust mental health provider network.
With a composite risk score of 57.76, Muscatine County ranks as Relatively Low but sits well above the U.S. average. Your county faces notably higher combined exposure to multiple disaster types.
Highest risk in Iowa's group
Muscatine County's 57.76 score exceeds Iowa's state average of 39.68 by nearly 50 percent. You rank among Iowa's higher-risk counties for natural disaster exposure.
Significantly riskier than surrounding counties
Muscatine County (57.76) faces substantially higher risk than all nearby counties, including Mitchell County (37.69) and Monona County (25.10). Your location along Iowa's river corridor drives elevated hazard exposure.
Flooding and earthquakes demand attention
Muscatine County's flood risk (62.56) and earthquake risk (54.13) are exceptionally high, ranking far above state averages. Wildfires (60.91) and tornados (54.99) also present significant local concerns.
Flood insurance and seismic prep essential
Given flood risk of 62.56 and earthquake risk of 54.13, flood insurance is critical—especially in mapped flood zones near the Mississippi River. Secure heavy furniture, install earthquake straps for appliances, and ensure your homeowners policy includes comprehensive coverage for wind, flood, and earthquake damage.