Muscatine 70 Excellent
Muscatine Livability #358 ranked city in Iowa#7,508 ranked city in the USARanks better than 74% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Muscatine

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Muscatine?

Located in the state of Iowa, Muscatine is a moderately-sized city with a population of 24,516 residents. The majority of Muscatine residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Muscatine will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 17 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a good experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Muscatine, Iowa. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, commute, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Muscatine and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Muscatine to Iowa and the national average.

The livability score in Muscatine is 68 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 70th percentile of all cities across America. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Muscatine has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Muscatine, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Muscatine can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Muscatine. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Muscatine are affordable. The median home price for Muscatine homes is $200,394, which is 16.5% lower than the Iowa average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Muscatine, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 16.7% lower than the Iowa average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Muscatine

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Muscatine?

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Compare Muscatine, IA Livability

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      Muscatine transportation information

      Statistic Muscatine Iowa National
      Average one way commute17min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work85.6%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.7%8.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.1%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.6%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.3%3.5%2.8%
      Working from home3.3%4.5%4.6%
      Source: The Muscatine, IA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.