RANK #435 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 11 IA · POP 174,608
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Scott County, Iowa, is distinguished by its position along the Mississippi River, forming a significant part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area, which bridges Iowa and Illinois. Davenport, the county seat and largest city, is one of Iowa's oldest cities, incorporated in 1838. The county offers a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, with the Mississippi River to its east and south, and the Wapsipinicon River to its north. Outdoor recreation is accessible through thousands of acres maintained by the Scott County Conservation Board, including Scott County Park, which features camping, trails, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Life in Scott County offers a mix of urban and rural living options, from downtown loft apartments in Davenport to homes in quieter countryside settings. The community is served by four main school districts—Davenport, Bettendorf, North Scott, and Pleasant Valley—along with several rural and private schools. The economy is driven by diverse sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and food processing. Recent economic developments include investments in advanced manufacturing and ongoing efforts to attract new industries, with a focus on expanding existing businesses and developing industrial parks.
Scott County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population +0.2%, wages +2.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center
Meta (Vemerald LLC)
|
$800M | Proposed |
|
Wind Farm (20,000 acres across Scott, Cedar, and Muscatine counties)
Triple Oak Power
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Hickory Grove Generating Station (Natural Gas Power Plant)
Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO)
|
$240M | Proposed |
|
Sub 56 Davenport 161 kV Substation (Solar Project)
Undisclosed
|
$100M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Scott County scores 56/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#435). Median household income is $78,277 and job growth is running at +2.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Scott County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $222,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,005/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Scott County are hiring — job growth of +2.3% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved +3.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 1.65% of Scott County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.