What are the schools like in Rolfe, IA?

School district data for Rolfe is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Rolfe?

The median household income in Rolfe, IA is $56,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 22.2%.

What is the weather like in Rolfe, IA?

Rolfe has an average high temperature of 25.6°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.8 inches.

Rolfe, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Rolfe, IA affordable or expensive?

Rolfe's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rolfe is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $51,300 and the median rent is $753 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Rolfe, IA?

Rolfe has a violent crime rate of 60.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 256.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rolfe, IA a Good Place to Live?

Rolfe is a small town of 665 in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,000 and a 22.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Rolfe 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 Rolfe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Rolfe 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: 84.7

Rolfe's overall cost of living index is 84.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rolfe costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Rolfe, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$51,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$753	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Rolfe's violent crime rate is 60.4 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

60.4 /100k

Property Crime

256.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Rolfe, 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	10.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rolfe sees average highs of 25.6°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 32.8 inches of annual precipitation and 38.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rolfe, IA
Average High — January	25.6°F
Average High — July	84.4°F
Annual Precipitation	32.8"
Annual Snowfall	38.8"

Demographics

Metric	Rolfe, IA	National Avg
Population	665	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	22.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.2%	22.2%
65 and over	21.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bradgate, IA 6 mi Plover, IA 6 mi Gilmore City, IA 8 mi Pocahontas, IA 9 mi Havelock, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Rolfe

Rolfe, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50581

Rolfe vs Other Cities

Rolfe, IA vs Bradgate, IA Rolfe, IA vs Plover, IA Rolfe, IA vs Gilmore City, IA Rolfe, IA vs Pocahontas, IA Rolfe, IA vs Havelock, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rolfe, IA affordable or expensive?

Rolfe's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rolfe roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $51,300 and median rent is $753/month.

What is the crime rate in Rolfe, IA?

Rolfe's violent crime rate is 60.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 256.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rolfe?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Rolfe, IA a good place to live?

Rolfe, IA has a population of 665, a median household income of $56,000, and an unemployment rate of 22.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Rolfe?

Rolfe averages 25.6°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.8 inches with about 38.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rolfe?

Rolfe, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50581.

What is the population of Rolfe?

The population of Rolfe, Iowa is 665 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rolfe?

Key numbers for living in Rolfe: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $51,300, median household income $56,000, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rolfe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.