Median Income
$42,400
household / year
Median Home Value
$59,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$921
gross / month
Cost of Living
86
national avg = 100

Is Rolla, KS a Good Place to Live?

Rolla is a small town of 711 in Kansas, with a median household income of $42,400 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

All Rolla 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: 86.1

Rolla's overall cost of living index is 86.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rolla costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric Rolla, KS National Avg
Median Home Value $59,300 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $921 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $42,400 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Rolla is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Rolla is served primarily by Rolla. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Rolla, KS National Avg
School District Rolla
Elementary Schools 1
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools N/A
Student/Teacher Ratio 7.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 77.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rolla sees average highs of 48.4°F in January and 94.5°F in July, with 17.7 inches of annual precipitation and 18.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricRolla, KS
Average High — January48.4°F
Average High — July94.5°F
Annual Precipitation17.7"
Annual Snowfall18.4"

Demographics

MetricRolla, KSNational Avg
Population711
Median Age33.938.9
Unemployment Rate2.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time21.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)70.2%59.3%
Black or African American3.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino20.1%18.9%
Asian0.3%6.3%
Under 1824.9%22.2%
65 and over17.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Rolla

Rolla, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Rolla vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Rolla's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rolla roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $59,300 and median rent is $921/month.
Crime data for Rolla is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Rolla are operated by Rolla. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.7:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rolla, KS has a population of 711, a median household income of $42,400, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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.
Rolla averages 48.4°F in January and 94.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.7 inches with about 18.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rolla, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 67954.
The population of Rolla, Kansas is 711 with a median age of 33.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rolla: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $59,300, median household income $42,400, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rolla side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.