The Town FilesRock Valley, Iowa
City in Sioux County · population 4,059 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,200
- Household income
- $76,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 35.1
Rock Valley is a city of 4,059 people in Sioux County, Iowa. The median home is worth $231,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 96% of Iowa towns, better transit than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Rock Valley 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 Valley is worth $231,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $76,250, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,142 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Valley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,142 | $820 |
| Median household income | $76,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rock Valley
| People | Rock Valley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rock Valley
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 9.4°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Valley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 1, 2008 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 5, 1978.
Severe weather in Sioux County since 1996
Sioux County has been included in 15 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 Sioux County
Sioux County had 22,957 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,762 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Rock Valley itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Rock Valley
4 public schools with 935 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Valley Elementary School | PK-5 | 386 | 10.7 |
| Rock Valley High School | 9-12 | 276 | 12.0 |
| Rock Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 194 | 27.7 |
| Rock Valley Pre-School | PK-K | 79 | — |
Towns near Rock Valley
- Sioux Center, IA10.6 mi · 8,229 people · home $290,800
- Canton, SD16.5 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Rock Rapids, IA16.7 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
- Hawarden, IA17.0 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- Orange City, IA18.2 mi · 6,267 people · home $264,000
- Sheldon, IA22.5 mi · 5,512 people · home $192,700
- Harrisburg, SD26.6 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Le Mars, IA29.7 mi · 10,571 people · home $219,200
Rock Valley questions
Is Rock Valley, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Valley scores better for retirees than 37% of Iowa towns and quieter than 20%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Rock Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Valley is valued at $231,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,250, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,142 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Valley?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 9.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.3 inches of snow.
Does Rock Valley get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 1, 2008. 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)