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Muscatine County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Muscatine County, Iowa has a population of 42,559, the 14th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $69,396 and the median home value is $182,100. The poverty rate is 13.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Muscatine County Quick Facts

Population 42,559
Median Household Income $69,396
Median Home Value $182,100
Poverty Rate 13.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.2%
Median Age 39.6 years
Homeownership Rate 73.9%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.1%
High School Graduation 89.7%
Cities/Places 12
Population 42,559 14th of 99
Median Income $69,396 8% lower than state
Poverty Rate 13.7%
Unemployment 3.2%

How Muscatine County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population42,73542,559-0.4%
Median household income$69,512$69,396-0.2%
Median home value$172,400$182,100+5.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.3%
$25K-$50K 18.0%
$50K-$100K 31.8%
$100K+ 34.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
4.1%
$15K-$20K
4.1%
$20K-$25K
3.8%
$25K-$30K
2.6%
$30K-$35K
4.0%
$35K-$40K
3.8%
$40K-$45K
4.5%
$45K-$50K
3.1%
$50K-$60K
8.1%
$60K-$75K
11.5%
$75K-$100K
12.2%
$100K-$125K
13.7%
$125K-$150K
7.8%
$150K-$200K
7.2%
$200K+
5.3%

Employment

3.2% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
65.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.9%
Renter 26.1%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $971/mo 16.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

40out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Muscatine County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Muscatine23,489$58,11719.1%$153,600
West Liberty3,776$69,34511.3%$180,000
Wilton2,920$76,6488.9%$189,200
Kent Estates1,848$121,97111.4%$347,700
Fruitland1,049$103,4242.5%$217,700
Moscow614$87,1810.0%$201,800
Conesville439$68,75018.6%N/A
Nichols373$72,8135.6%$134,400
Atalissa253$67,1887.1%$127,900
Montpelier209$70,9384.8%$255,100
Stockton170$49,50012.9%$100,000
Fairport109$108,3930.0%$217,300

Population Overview

Muscatine County is located in Iowa with a total population of 42,559. It is the 14th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Muscatine County is 39.6 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Muscatine County is $69,396. This is 8% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $182,100. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Muscatine County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Muscatine County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (18.8% vs 7.3%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

23.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Muscatine County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Muscatine County, Iowa?

Muscatine County has a population of 42,559, making it the 14th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Muscatine County?

The median household income in Muscatine County is $69,396 with a poverty rate of 13.7%.

How many cities are in Muscatine County, Iowa?

Muscatine County contains 12 Census-designated places.