Rock Falls is a small town of 130 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,375
and a 6.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rock Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rock Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rock Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.3
Rock Falls's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rock Falls costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rock Falls, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$137,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$825
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Rock Falls's violent crime rate is 200.2 per 100,000 residents
— 47% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
200.2 /100k
Property Crime
1844.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Rock Falls, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
100.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rock Falls sees average highs of 24.0°F in January
and 81.9°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.4 inches of snow per year.
Rock Falls's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rock Falls roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $137,500 and median rent is $825/month.
Rock Falls's violent crime rate is 200.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1844.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Rock Falls, IA has a population of 130, a median household income of $54,375, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Rock Falls averages 24.0°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 44.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rock Falls, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50467.
The population of Rock Falls, Iowa is 130 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rock Falls: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $137,500, median household income $54,375, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rock Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.