Muscatine County
IA · Pop. 42,735 · Suburban County
Muscatine County sits in Iowa across 437 square miles, home to 42,735 people at 97.8 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $172,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.55%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.6°F and average winter lows of 17.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 37.3 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Trinity Muscatine is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $172,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 91% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Trinity Muscatine, with an emergency room, is just 4.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.8% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.55% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Muscatine County, IA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 43/100
- Median home price
- $172k
- Property tax
- 1.55%
- Growing season
- 184 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 37.3"
- Broadband
- 91%
- Nearest hospital
- Trinity Muscatine, 4.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Muscatine County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Muscatine County?
- Muscatine County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.6°F, and average winter lows of 17.8°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $172,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.55%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 91% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Trinity Muscatine is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Iowa
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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