MysticIA
A town of 316, settled in 1857.
Is Mystic a good place to live?
Mystic has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
316 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Mystic: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mystic, and how to reach them.
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 Mystic.
The median rent in Mystic is lower than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home lost just over a tenth of its value. Among households in Mystic, 79% live in a home they own. The typical Mystic home is worth about $74,000, down 11.6% in a year, 69% below the Iowa typical home.
| Mystic | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $469 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 79% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The median household income in Mystic is lower than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
The mean commuting time for Mystic comes to 17 minutes, below both Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). The median commute is under 28 miles. The top destinations are Centerville (27%), Des Moines (8%) and Corydon (3%).
| Mystic | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Mystic
Expect July afternoons of 85° and January nights of 14°, with about 22 inches of snow a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Mystic is
Mystic: nearly two in five adults have high blood pressure. Among adults locally, 41% have obesity and 31% sleep under 7 hours.
| Mystic | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| What stands out | Mystic | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with high blood pressure | 38.8% | 33.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 8.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Mystic faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Households in Mystic have drawn federal disaster aid in 6 declared disasters, most recently in 2015. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage locally than in 53% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 39% come from drought and 29% from inland flooding. The national flood insurance program has paid 7 claims here since 1980.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Mystic
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mystic; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Mystic residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
100% of working residents leave Mystic for work
Where Mystic’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Mystic
City in Iowa, USA
Mystic is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 322 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1857
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 899 ft
- ZIP code
- 52574
Questions about Mystic
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mystic, IA a good place to live?
Mystic has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.