In Muscatine, a typical home is worth $153,600 and typical rent is $974 a month. Compared with all of Muscatine County, typical household income is 16% lower, the typical home value is 16% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $155,365 to $194,403.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Muscatine is in Muscatine County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Muscatine County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical household income in Muscatine is $58,117,16% less than in Muscatine County as a whole ($69,396).
2
The typical home in Muscatine is worth $153,600,16% less than in Muscatine County as a whole ($182,100).
3
66% of households in Muscatine own their home, against 74% in Muscatine County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Muscatine
What homes there are in Muscatine, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
71%
76%
72%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
9%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
10%
8%
14%
19%
Mobile home
5%
6%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Muscatine, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Muscatine County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
46%
40%
38%
26%
1960–1979
26%
25%
24%
24%
1980–1999
18%
21%
17%
25%
2000–2009
7%
10%
11%
14%
2010 or later
3%
4%
11%
11%
In Muscatine, half of the homes were built before 1963; in Muscatine County, before 1970.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K24%
$100K–$200K46%
$200K–$300K18%
$300K–$500K9%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Under $100K
24%
$100K–$200K
46%
$200K–$300K
18%
$300K–$500K
9%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Muscatine are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Muscatine County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50010%
$500–$99945%
$1,000–$1,49939%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,093
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Under $500
10%
$500–$999
45%
$1,000–$1,499
39%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
About 62% of rented homes in Muscatine cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Muscatine County ($1,093); the rest cost more.
With a mortgage
$1,279 a month
Muscatine County: $1,424 a month
Without a mortgage
$581 a month
Muscatine County: $628 a month
Owners with a mortgage
60%
Muscatine County: 59%
Owning costs less in Muscatine: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,279 a month; in Muscatine County, $1,424. Without one, $581.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Muscatine+39%
Muscatine County+40%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Muscatine+14%
Muscatine County+17%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Muscatine+10%
Muscatine County+19%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+39%
+40%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+14%
+17%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
+10%
+19%
+24%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Muscatine rose at about the same pace as in Muscatine County: 39% against 40%.
Rents in Muscatine rose more slowly than in Muscatine County: 14% since 2015–2019, against 17%.
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 10%, while home values changed +39% and rent +14%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Muscatine and its comparisons
Measure
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.39
2.41
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
80%
80%
76%
69%
Carpool
10%
10%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
6%
6%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Muscatine look like those in Muscatine County: 2.39 people on average.
In Muscatine, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Muscatine County, 80%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Muscatine?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Muscatine, worth $153,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Muscatine, which is $58,117 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $58,548 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Muscatine County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Muscatine. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $5,376 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,366
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$150,818
Total interest
$216,992
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,594 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,356 a month
Tight
$1,356 to $1,744 a month
Your payment · 28%
Hard
more than $1,744 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Muscatine ($58,117 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,022
Property tax
$213
Home insurance
$64
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$68
You need at least $5,376 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,366; principal and interest $1,022.
The city and its county
Muscatine and Muscatine County
Muscatine is in Muscatine County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Muscatine
Map of Muscatine County, Iowa, with Muscatine marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Muscatine's own numbers
Typical home value
$153,600
Typical monthly rent
$974
Typical yearly household income
$58,117
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
1.66%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Muscatine County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,093
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.8%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Muscatine County.
A typical home in Muscatine is worth $153,600: 16% below the county and 26% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Muscatine ($58,117 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Muscatine2.6 years
County2.6 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Muscatine County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Muscatine County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Muscatine County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Muscatine County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.9% +2.9% 2016
2017: +2.8% +2.8% 2017
2018: +4.4% +4.4% 2018
2019: +2.0% +2.0% 2019
2020: +2.4% +2.4% 2020
2021: +8.4% +8.4% 2021
2022: +10.0% +10.0% 2022
2023: +4.3% +4.3% 2023
2024: +8.3% +8.3% 2024
2025: +2.7% +2.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Muscatine County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.7%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+38%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+60%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Muscatine next to Muscatine County, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Muscatine$153,600
County$182,100
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Muscatine$974
County$971
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Muscatine$58,117
County$69,396
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Muscatine next to Muscatine County and Iowa
Measure
Muscatine
Muscatine County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$153,600 ▼16% below the county
$182,100
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$974
$971
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$58,117 ▼16% below the county
$69,396
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▼7 points below the county
74%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,556 ▼6% below the county
$2,732
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.66% ▲0.16 points above the county
1.5%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
52% ▲6 points above the county
45%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Muscatine County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Muscatine
For a typical $153,600 home in Muscatine, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Muscatine's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,366a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,376
Cash to close
$9,984
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $68
Conventional, 5% down$1,338a month
Down payment
$7,680
Cash to close
$12,288
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $73
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,109a month
Down payment
$30,720
Cash to close
$35,328
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,251a month
Down payment
$23,040
Cash to close
$27,648
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Muscatine
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,366
$5,376
$150,818
7.18%
FHA MIP · $68
$9,984
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,338
$7,680
$145,920
7.18%
PMI · $73
$12,288
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,109
$30,720
$122,880
7.18%
None
$35,328
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,251
$23,040
$130,560
8.18%
None
$27,648
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Muscatine is $974 a month: about the same as the county. In Muscatine, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Muscatine County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,093 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.02 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Muscatine County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$812
$15.62
$32,480
1 bedroom
$867
$16.67
$34,680
2 bedrooms
$1,093
$21.02
$43,720
3 bedrooms
$1,315
$25.29
$52,600
4 bedrooms
$1,622
$31.19
$64,880
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Muscatine
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Muscatine is in ZIP code 52761.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,100: $7 more than the fair market rent for Muscatine County ($1,093).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Muscatine, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
52761
$820
$870
$1,100
$1,320
$1,630
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
52761 $1,100$1,320
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Muscatine when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Muscatine. These are the largest.
Clark House117 W 3rd St, Muscatine 52761150 low-income homes · Run by Muscatine Municipal Housing Agency · Average payment: $351 a month · Average wait: 14 months(563) 264-1554
Muscatine Tower Apartments106 E 6th St, Muscatine 5276192 low-income homes · For older adults(563) 263-9915
Cedar Park Apts1816 Logan St, Muscatine 5276172 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2006 · For families(563) 262-8211
Sycamore Apts2416 Park Ave, Muscatine 5276172 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 1996 · For people with disabilities, families
Cedar Hills Apartments2002 Logan St, Muscatine 5276172 homes, 67 low-income · For families(563) 262-8211
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Muscatine County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Muscatine or Muscatine County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Muscatine the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Muscatine or Muscatine County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Muscatine and all of Muscatine County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Muscatine?
The typical home value in Muscatine is $153,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Muscatine County it is $182,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Muscatine?
Typical rent in Muscatine is $974 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Muscatine County is $1,093.
What is the FHA loan limit in Muscatine?
Muscatine uses the FHA limit for all of Muscatine County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Muscatine?
The typical homeowner in Muscatine pays $2,556 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.66% of the home’s value; in Muscatine County, the rate is 1.5%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Muscatine?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Muscatine County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
