The Town FilesRock Rapids, Iowa
City in Lyon County · population 2,611 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $206,700
- Household income
- $63,942
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.0
Rock Rapids is a city of 2,611 people in Lyon County, Iowa. The median home is worth $206,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 82% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 71% of Iowa towns.
How Rock Rapids ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rock Rapids is worth $206,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $63,942, which is more affordable than 8% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Rapids | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $206,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $812 | $820 |
| Median household income | $63,942 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rock Rapids
| People | Rock Rapids | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rock Rapids
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Rapids since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 26, 1986 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 22, 2010.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lyon County
Lyon County had 4,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,696 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Rock Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Rock Rapids
2 public schools with 794 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Lyon Elementary School | PK-6 | 430 | 13.4 |
| Central Lyon Secondary School | 7-12 | 364 | 14.6 |
Towns near Rock Rapids
- Luverne, MN15.8 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
- Rock Valley, IA16.7 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Sibley, IA21.3 mi · 2,860 people · home $122,000
- Canton, SD22.8 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Sheldon, IA23.6 mi · 5,512 people · home $192,700
- Brandon, SD23.8 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Sioux Center, IA24.3 mi · 8,229 people · home $290,800
- Harrisburg, SD27.4 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
Rock Rapids questions
Is Rock Rapids, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Rapids scores better for retirees than 32% of Iowa towns and quieter than 28%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Rock Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Rapids is valued at $206,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,942, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Rapids?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 34.9 inches of snow.
Does Rock Rapids get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 26, 1986. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)