City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Rock Rapids, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rock Rapids - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,653
Residents
$61,679
Median income
$207,700
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Rock Rapids - the verdict

Rock Rapids ranks in the 38th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

38th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rock Rapids, IA

2,653 people live in Rock Rapids, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Rock Rapids households earn a median of $61,679 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Rock Rapids's housing stock carries a median value of $207,700, and the median resident age is 42.1 years. 21.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 27 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 350% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 46.0°F with 29.3 inches of precipitation per year and 34.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $919 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 19.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,653 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$61,679 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Rock Rapids compare to other US cities?

Here's how Rock Rapids stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rock Rapids against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Rock Rapids near the bottom of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Rock Rapids ranks #450 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rock Rapids only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#506 of 845
40th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#122 of 849
86th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#615 of 858
28th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#307 of 858
64th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

38thIncome percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rock Rapids's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$207,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rock Rapids $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rock Rapids, IA Rock Rapids, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rock Rapids, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rock Rapids, IA median $61,679/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rock Rapids, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rock Rapids, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,653
Median Income
$61,679
Median Home Value
$207,700
Median Age
42.1
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
62.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.0°F
Annual Precipitation
29.3"
Annual Snowfall
34.9"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,600 residents2,650 residents2,700 residents2,750 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,613 residents 2,733 residents ▲ +4.6%
Rock Rapids's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
27
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 9
2021 11
2022 9
2023 6
2024 27

Permit volume increased 350% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.8%
Carpool
5.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.9%
Work from Home
10.4%
Other
1.5%

Based on 1,225 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rock Rapids sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
19.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Hawarden
2,674 people
Belmond
2,678 people
Kalona
2,679 people
Eldora
2,622 people
Missouri Valley
2,685 people
Hudson
2,614 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rock Rapids's 2,653 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hartford, KY
2,653 people
West Wyoming, PA
2,653 people
Pikeville, TN
2,653 people
East Bernard, TX
2,653 people
Shawneeland, VA
2,653 people
Holly Hills, CO
2,652 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rock Rapids's $61,679 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lytle, TX
$61,678 median income
Rivesville, WV
$61,678 median income
Fair Oaks, GA
$61,681 median income
Wilson's Mills, NC
$61,677 median income
Littlefork, MN
$61,685 median income
Broadway, VA
$61,685 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rock Rapids, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rock Rapids, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.2% 7.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.0% White 91.2% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 7.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rock Rapids compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rock Rapids (this city) 2,653 $61,679
Hawarden 2,674 $69,375
Belmond 2,678 $58,750
Kalona 2,679 $72,766
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rock Rapids, IA?

What is the population of Rock Rapids, IA? +

2,653 people live in Rock Rapids, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rock Rapids, IA? +

Rock Rapids households earn a median of $61,679 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rock Rapids? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rock Rapids; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rock Rapids, IA? +

Rock Rapids's median home value sits at $207,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Rock Rapids? +

Climate normals put Rock Rapids's yearly average temperature at 46.0°F, 29.3 inches of precipitation, and 34.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.