City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Rockford, MN

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

4,521
Residents
$82,228
Median income
$265,900
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Rockford - the verdict

Nationally, Rockford sits in the 64th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

64th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
68th
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: Rockford, MN

4,521 people live in Rockford, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Rockford brings in $82,228 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Home values in Rockford run a median of $265,900, and the median resident age is 42.7 years. 41.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 29 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 53% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,709 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). The average commute for Rockford workers runs 25.9 minutes, with 79.5% driving alone and 12.0% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 68.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

4,521 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$82,228 /yr

Poverty 2.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Rockford compare to other US cities?

Where Rockford sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 64% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% 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 Rockford against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Rockford toward the top of Minnesota's cities

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Rockford ranks #97 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rockford only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#243 of 775
69th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#192 of 774
75th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#580 of 785
25th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#97 of 784
88th percentile in Minnesota

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 Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

64thIncome percentile

64th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rockford's home value compares nationally

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

$265,900 41st percentile more affordable than 41% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Rockford $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 - Rockford, MN Rockford, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rockford, MN-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 Rockford, MN median $82,228/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%
Rockford, MN'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 Rockford, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.5%

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

Population
4,521
Median Income
$82,228
Median Home Value
$265,900
Median Age
42.7
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
70.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.6%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,400 residents4,600 residents4,800 residents5,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,486 residents 4,827 residents ▲ +7.6%
Rockford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
29
housing units authorized
Single-Family
27
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 19
2020 44
2021 46
2022 35
2023 20
2024 29

Permit volume increased 53% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.9 minutes
Drive Alone
79.5%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
12.0%

Based on 2,682 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota 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 Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rockford sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Nowthen
4,539 people
Newport
4,460 people
Sauk Centre
4,589 people
Dilworth
4,664 people
Wayzata
4,363 people
Wadena
4,361 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockford's 4,521 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Guerneville, CA
4,522 people
Hartwell, GA
4,523 people
California, MO
4,523 people
Prospect, KY
4,518 people
Potosi, TX
4,524 people
Dardanelle, AR
4,517 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockford's $82,228 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Glendale Heights, IL
$82,232 median income
Cranford, NJ
$82,222 median income
Ellettsville, IN
$82,238 median income
Hackensack, NJ
$82,212 median income
Miramiguoa Park, MO
$82,250 median income
Cadyville, NY
$82,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rockford, MN 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 Rockford, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.3% White 89.2% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 4.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 4.3% 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 Rockford compares to nearby Minnesota cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Rockford (this city) 4,521 $82,228
Nowthen 4,539 $134,491
Newport 4,460 $63,365
Sauk Centre 4,589 $65,763
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rockford, MN?

What is the population of Rockford, MN? +

4,521 people live in Rockford, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rockford, MN? +

The median household income in Rockford is $82,228 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rockford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rockford; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rockford, MN? +

A typical home in Rockford is worth $265,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.