City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Rockwood, TN

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

5,510
Residents
$37,867
Median income
$132,100
Median home
$1,092
Median rent (state)

Rockwood - the verdict

Nationally, Rockwood sits in the 6th percentile for household income and the 20th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

6th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
20th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Rockwood, TN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,510 residents in Rockwood, a small town within Tennessee. The typical household in Rockwood brings in $37,867 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.7%. Typical homes in Rockwood are valued around $132,100, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. 11.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 42.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 13 residential building permits were authorized in Rockwood (Building Boom), up 225% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2650.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Rockwood's yearly average temperature at 57.5°F with 60.5 inches of precipitation per year and 2.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Tennessee scores 91.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,092 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Tennessee's average monthly utility costs around $218 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 69.0 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

5,510 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$37,867 /yr

Poverty 11.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Rockwood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities
Safety 20% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Tennessee, Rockwood ranks #135 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rockwood's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

6thIncome percentile
20thSafety percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income · 20th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rockwood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rockwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Rockwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Rockwood's home value compares nationally

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

$132,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Rockwood $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 - Rockwood, TN Rockwood, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rockwood, TN-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 Rockwood, TN median $37,867/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%
Rockwood, TN'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 Rockwood, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.3%

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

Population
5,510
Median Income
$37,867
Median Home Value
$132,100
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Labor force participation
42.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2650.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
579.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2070.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.5°F
Annual Precipitation
60.5"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,400 residents5,500 residents5,600 residents5,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,431 residents 5,607 residents ▲ +3.2%
Rockwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 11
2021 1
2022 8
2023 18
2024 13

Permit volume increased 225% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.3%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
13.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 1,961 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,092/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Mount Carmel
5,504 people
Dunlap
5,546 people
Lafayette
5,643 people
Ashland City
5,318 people
McKenzie
5,706 people
Medina
5,268 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockwood's 5,510 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spring Valley, IL
5,508 people
Bessemer City, NC
5,508 people
Walton, KY
5,513 people
Treasure Lake, PA
5,513 people
Sinton, TX
5,513 people
Iroquois Point, HI
5,506 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockwood's $37,867 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Piedmont, MO
$37,868 median income
Sarcoxie, MO
$37,868 median income
Midway, AR
$37,875 median income
Chamois, MO
$37,857 median income
Nickelsville, VA
$37,857 median income
Afton, NY
$37,885 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rockwood, TN 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 Rockwood, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.1% White 92.3% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Rockwood compares to nearby Tennessee cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Rockwood (this city) 5,510 $37,867
Mount Carmel 5,504 $71,336
Dunlap 5,546 $38,666
Lafayette 5,643 $44,924
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rockwood, TN?

What is the population of Rockwood, TN? +

5,510 people live in Rockwood, TN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rockwood, TN? +

In Rockwood, the typical household earns $37,867 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rockwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rockwood; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Rockwood, TN safe? +

Rockwood has a total crime rate of 2650.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Rockwood, TN? +

Homes in Rockwood carry a median value of $132,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Rockwood? +

The average annual temperature in Rockwood runs 57.5°F, 60.5 inches of precipitation, and 2.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.