What are the schools like in Rolla, MO?

Rolla is served primarily by ROLLA 31. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Rolla?

The median household income in Rolla, MO is $37,685 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Rolla, MO?

Rolla has an average high temperature of 40.9°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 17.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Rolla, MO affordable or expensive?

Rolla's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rolla is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,500 and the median rent is $760 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Rolla, MO?

Rolla has a violent crime rate of 373.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2539.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rolla, MO a Good Place to Live?

Rolla is a small city of 20,025 in Missouri, with a median household income of $37,685 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Rolla stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, 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: 91.6

Rolla's overall cost of living index is 91.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rolla costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Rolla, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$760	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,685	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Rolla's violent crime rate is 373.9 per 100,000 residents — 2% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

373.9 /100k

Property Crime

2539.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Rolla is served primarily by ROLLA 31. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Rolla, MO	National Avg
School District	ROLLA 31	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rolla sees average highs of 40.9°F in January and 88.9°F in July, with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation and 17.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rolla, MO
Average High — January	40.9°F
Average High — July	88.9°F
Annual Precipitation	46.7"
Annual Snowfall	17.3"

Demographics

Metric	Rolla, MO	National Avg
Population	20,025	—
Median Age	26.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	5.7%	6.3%
Under 18	17.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Doolittle, MO 7 mi Newburg, MO 8 mi St. James, MO 9 mi Edgar Springs, MO 18 mi Dixon, MO 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Rolla

Rolla, MO is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

65401 65409

Rolla vs Other Cities

Rolla, MO vs Doolittle, MO Rolla, MO vs Newburg, MO Rolla, MO vs St. James, MO Rolla, MO vs Edgar Springs, MO Rolla, MO vs Dixon, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rolla, MO affordable or expensive?

Rolla's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rolla roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,500 and median rent is $760/month.

What is the crime rate in Rolla, MO?

Rolla's violent crime rate is 373.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2539.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rolla?

Public schools in Rolla are operated by ROLLA 31. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Rolla, MO a good place to live?

Rolla, MO has a population of 20,025, a median household income of $37,685, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. 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 Rolla?

Rolla averages 40.9°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches with about 17.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rolla?

Rolla, MO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 65401, 65409.

What is the population of Rolla?

The population of Rolla, Missouri is 20,025 with a median age of 26.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rolla?

Key numbers for living in Rolla: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $161,500, median household income $37,685, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer), 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.