The Town FilesWest Liberty, Iowa
City in Muscatine County · population 3,858 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,000
- Household income
- $69,345
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 35.0
West Liberty is a city of 3,858 people in Muscatine County, Iowa. The median home is worth $180,000, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 84% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 72% of Iowa towns.
How West Liberty 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 West Liberty is worth $180,000, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $69,345, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,038 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Liberty | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,038 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,345 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Liberty
| People | West Liberty | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in West Liberty
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Liberty since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 10, 2026.
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 West Liberty itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in West Liberty
4 public schools with 1,282 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Liberty Elementary School | K-4 | 438 | 12.2 |
| West Liberty Middle School | 5-8 | 391 | 15.0 |
| West Liberty High School | 9-12 | 382 | 14.7 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 71 | 14.2 |
Towns near West Liberty
- West Branch, IA7.7 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- Wilton, IA12.3 mi · 2,924 people · home $189,200
- Muscatine, IA14.7 mi · 23,797 people · home $153,600
- Iowa City, IA15.0 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Tipton, IA15.3 mi · 3,149 people · home $165,500
- Coralville, IA19.3 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Solon, IA20.3 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- North Liberty, IA21.5 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
West Liberty questions
Is West Liberty, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Liberty scores better for retirees than 9% of Iowa towns and quieter than 27%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in West Liberty?
The median owner-occupied home in West Liberty is valued at $180,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,345, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,038 a month.
What is the weather like in West Liberty?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.6 inches of snow.
Does West Liberty get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Liberty since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)