The Town FilesFruitland, Iowa
City in Muscatine County · population 963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,700
- Household income
- $103,424
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 30.8
Fruitland is a city of 963 people in Muscatine County, Iowa. The median home is worth $217,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 91% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Fruitland ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fruitland is worth $217,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $103,424, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. 95.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fruitland | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $103,424 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 95.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fruitland
| People | Fruitland | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fruitland
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fruitland since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2007 about 0.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 1975.
Severe weather in Muscatine County since 1996
Muscatine County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Muscatine County
Muscatine County had 21,234 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,594 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Fruitland itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Towns near Fruitland
- Muscatine, IA5.9 mi · 23,797 people · home $153,600
- Kent Estates, IA9.0 mi · 2,074 people · home $347,700
- Wapello, IA12.2 mi · 2,084 people · home $143,900
- Columbus Junction, IA13.1 mi · 1,830 people · home $125,800
- New Boston, IL13.9 mi · 613 people · home $95,400
- West Liberty, IA17.1 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
- Wilton, IA17.5 mi · 2,924 people · home $189,200
- Lone Tree, IA18.2 mi · 1,357 people · home $179,800
Fruitland questions
Is Fruitland, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fruitland scores better for retirees than 49% of Iowa towns and quieter than 91%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.8).
How much does a house cost in Fruitland?
The median owner-occupied home in Fruitland is valued at $217,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,424, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fruitland?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.5 inches of snow.
Does Fruitland get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fruitland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)