Below Average CostVery SafeCentral Lyon Comm School District
Median Income
$67,625
household / year
Median Home Value
$197,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$766
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100
Is Rock Rapids, IA a Good Place to Live?
Rock Rapids is a small town of 2,631 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,625
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rock Rapids stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rock Rapids is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rock Rapids 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: 91.5
Rock Rapids's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rock Rapids costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rock Rapids, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$197,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$766
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,625
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rock Rapids's violent crime rate is 127.6 per 100,000 residents
— 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
127.6 /100k
Property Crime
561.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rock Rapids is served primarily by Central Lyon Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rock Rapids, IA
National Avg
School District
Central Lyon Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rock Rapids sees average highs of 25.2°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 29.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.9 inches of snow per year.
Rock Rapids's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rock Rapids roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $197,500 and median rent is $766/month.
Rock Rapids's violent crime rate is 127.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 561.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rock Rapids are operated by Central Lyon Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rock Rapids, IA has a population of 2,631, a median household income of $67,625, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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 Rapids averages 25.2°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.3 inches
with about 34.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rock Rapids, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51246.
The population of Rock Rapids, Iowa is 2,631 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rock Rapids: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $197,500, median household income $67,625, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rock Rapids side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.