Blue Grass, Iowa Community Center, 2012
Blue Grass’s story
186 years in pictures
Census counts: 70 in 1880, 1,666 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
- 1840Blue Grass is settled
Blue GrassIA
Trash day: MondayPhoto: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,703
2025 Census estimate · +2.2% since 2020
Typical home
$358K
+5.8% in a year
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
48.3
years
Jobs based here
429
A commuter town
Is Blue Grass a good place to live?
Blue Grass’ best subject grades are an A+ for safety and an A for civic life; its weakest is a D− for schools. No town in Iowa scores higher than Blue Grass on safety. Only 20 of Iowa’s 276 towns score lower on the outdoors. Blue Grass has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Blue Grass stand out
Where Blue Grass beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Blue Grass0
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
No violent crime reported in 2025
Less crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1840
A long history
A history going back 186 years.
Davenport Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Grass Elementary School | K–5 | 277 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A growing town
Blue Grass has grown 17% since 2010
1,452 counted in 2010 and 1,666 in 2020; an estimated 1,703 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Blue Grass grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Blue Grass is from typical.
SafetyLess crime per resident than almost any U.S. townA+Open →SchoolsD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.7 of 20; 0.9% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →Jobs & income$93K median household incomeBOpen →HealthTrinity Rock Island 10.2 miles awayB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsC−Open →History1 notable person born hereB−Open →Civic life4.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 48.3; 28% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Blue Grass: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Blue Grass, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterIowa-American Wtr Co-DavenportNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereScott County AuditorScott County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5272652726 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Blue Grass.
SafetyA+
In Blue Grass, property crime runs lower than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
Blue Grass’ property crime rate is 0 per 1,000 residents, against 7.3 in Iowa’s towns and 9.9 across U.S. towns. Of the 116 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower violent crime rate than Blue Grass. Blue Grass reports less crime per resident than 100% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
99%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Blue Grass | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 7.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Blue Grass0
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Blue Grass0
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
99th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
0
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsD−
On state tests, Blue Grass’ schools trail 97% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Davenport Community School District. Its one school is below.
3%of IA districts it outscoresD−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Grass Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 277 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
The typical home in Blue Grass is valued at about $358K
The typical Blue Grass home is worth about $358,000, up 5.8% in a year, 51% above the Iowa typical home. 82% of households own their home in Blue Grass, where Iowa’s towns sit at 70% and U.S. towns at 73%. The median rent in Blue Grass is $1,229 a month.
$358KZillow home value
| Blue Grass | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,229 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Blue Grass$358K
Iowa$237K
+5.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in three of Blue Grass’ working residents commute to Davenport
Most working residents leave Blue Grass for work: only 3% work in town. Blue Grass’ average trip to work is 27 minutes. Since 2013, Blue Grass has lost 46 jobs, to 429 in 2023.
3%work in town
| Blue Grass | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Blue Grass3%
Davenport31%
Muscatine6%
Bettendorf6%
Walcott6%
13 mi
median commute distance
429
jobs based in Blue Grass
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 36% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Blue Grass
Blue Grass has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 14° and about 29 inches of snow falls in a winter.
29″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–33°
Spring40–60°
Summer62–82°
Fall42–62°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Low risk in Blue Grass, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 65% of U.S. communities.
35risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Iowa overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 24% of residents (18% statewide). Among 141 Iowa towns, just 5 have a higher median age than Blue Grass. Blue Grass has grown 2.2% since 2020, to 1,703 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
48.3median age · IA 38.6
| Blue Grass | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 21% | 23% | 22% |
Blue GrassIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school31%
Some college22%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
59% women, 41% men
About 71 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.8 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Blue Grass | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.6% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.1% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.6% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.3% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.3% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.3% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.4% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.3% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.8% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.7% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.3% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.8% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB−
Residents of Blue Grass are healthier than 54% of U.S. towns
Blue Grass beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 22% of adults binge drink in Blue Grass.
54%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Blue Grass | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 32% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better29 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Blue Grass | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 70.5% | 66.6% |
| More adults with arthritis | 31% | 27% |
Trinity Rock Island
10.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,008 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gless Park | — | 4 |
| 2. Gless Field | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 25 attractions →Rock Island Arsenal and 12 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Blue Grass. Close and well known come first.
12 mi Ancient siteRock Island Arsenal
32 mi MuseumHerbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
11 mi MuseumBlack Hawk State Historic Site
10 mi MuseumFigge Art Museum77K visitors a year
32 mi National Historic SiteHerbert Hoover National Historic Site107K visitors a year
9 mi MuseumPutnam MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Rock Island Arsenal: Robert A, Ryan, J. Ceronia, and Bruce A. Harms, Photographers, Public domain · Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum: Shadow2700, Public domain · Black Hawk State Historic Site: Bill Whittaker (talk). Original uploader was Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Figge Art Museum: Ctjf83, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Putnam Museum: Ctjf83 of English Wikipedia (log), Public domain
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blue Grass
20pages on Blue Grass
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 97% of IA districts · 1 schoolSafetyA+0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than IA on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$358K typical home · up 5.8% in a yearWork & commuteB$93K median household income · 429 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Blue Grass
Saint Ambrose UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Davenport9.9 mi$36,658 tuitionEastern Iowa Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · Davenport10 mi$4,848 in-state tuitionPalmer College of ChiropracticUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Davenport10 mi
About 2 of every 100 Blue Grass residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Blue Grass for work
Where Blue Grass’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
429jobs based in Blue Grass
3%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Blue Grass
City in Iowa, United States
Blue Grass is a city in Muscatine and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,666 as of 2020. Most of Blue Grass is part of the Davenport–Moline–Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area, but the Muscatine County portion of the city is considered part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 791 ft
- ZIP code
- 52726
Questions about Blue Grass
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Blue Grass, IA expensive?
That is 4.9 years of the area's median household income ($72,738 across the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.