City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Rockdale, TX

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

5,455
Residents
$47,550
Median income
$164,300
Median home
$1,037
Median rent (state)

Rockdale - the verdict

Nationally, Rockdale sits in the 16th percentile for household income and the 37th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

16th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
23rd
percentile, median rent
37th
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: Rockdale, TX

5,455 people live in Rockdale, Texas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $47,550 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.2%. Rockdale's housing stock carries a median value of $164,300, and the median resident age is 39.3 years. 15.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 61 residential building permits were authorized in Rockdale (Building Boom), up 2950% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Rockdale reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1797.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,037 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 58.1 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

5,455 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$47,550 /yr

Poverty 11.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Rockdale compare to other US cities?

Rockdale measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 23% pricier than other cities
Safety 37% 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 Texas, Rockdale ranks #417 of 624 Texas 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 Rockdale'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 Texas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

16thIncome percentile
37thSafety percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income · 37th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rockdale's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rockdale'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 42 Avg. percentile National median
Rockdale'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 Rockdale's home value compares nationally

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

$164,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Rockdale $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 - Rockdale, TX Rockdale, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rockdale, TX-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 Rockdale, TX median $47,550/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%
Rockdale, TX'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 Rockdale, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.0%

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

Population
5,455
Median Income
$47,550
Median Home Value
$164,300
Median Age
39.3
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Labor force participation
52.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1797.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
810.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
986.6
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.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,200 residents5,400 residents5,600 residents5,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,296 residents 5,688 residents ▲ +7.4%
Rockdale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
61
housing units authorized
Single-Family
61
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 6
2021 9
2022 8
2023 3
2024 61

Permit volume increased 2950% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.4%
Carpool
14.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
10.5%
Other
5.1%

Based on 2,134 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,037/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
58.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Willow Park
5,447 people
Wyldwood
5,436 people
Atlanta
5,434 people
Aledo
5,432 people
Alvarado
5,424 people
Luling
5,486 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockdale's 5,455 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ellenton, FL
5,454 people
South Gate Ridge, FL
5,456 people
Macon, MO
5,457 people
Toronto, OH
5,452 people
Belvedere, SC
5,458 people
Candlewick Lake, IL
5,459 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rockdale's $47,550 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pinewood, FL
$47,551 median income
Oceana, WV
$47,548 median income
Olean, NY
$47,553 median income
Rouses Point, NY
$47,556 median income
Cave Spring, GA
$47,560 median income
Avondale, LA
$47,561 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rockdale, TX 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 Rockdale, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.2% 7.0% 9.2% 11.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.7% White 71.2% Black or African American 7.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.9% Some other race 9.2% Two or more races 11.0% 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 Rockdale compares to nearby Texas cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Rockdale (this city) 5,455 $47,550
Willow Park 5,447 $113,736
Wyldwood 5,436 $85,216
Atlanta 5,434 $62,675
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rockdale, TX?

What is the population of Rockdale, TX? +

5,455 people live in Rockdale, TX according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rockdale, TX? +

Rockdale households earn a median of $47,550 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rockdale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rockdale; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Rockdale, TX safe? +

Rockdale has a total crime rate of 1797.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Rockdale, TX? +

A typical home in Rockdale is worth $164,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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