The Town FilesRockdale, Texas
City in Milam County · population 5,323 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,900
- Household income
- $60,590
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.1
Rockdale is a city of 5,323 people in Milam County, Texas. The median home is worth $230,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 75% of Texas towns, hipper than 75% of Texas towns.
How Rockdale ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rockdale is worth $230,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $60,590, which is more affordable than 20% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,115 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockdale | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,115 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $60,590 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Rockdale
| People | Rockdale | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rockdale
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 38.7°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockdale since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 30, 1954 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 20, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Milam County since 1996
Milam County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Milam County
Milam County had 6,020 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,455 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Rockdale itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Rockdale
5 public schools with 1,577 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKDALE H S | 9-12 | 466 | 11.1 |
| ROCKDALE INT | 2-5 | 453 | 15.1 |
| ROCKDALE J H | 6-8 | 325 | 12.0 |
| ROCKDALE EL | PK-1 | 272 | 14.3 |
| ROCKDALE INSPIRE ACADEMY (charter) | 7-12 | 61 | 10.2 |
Towns near Rockdale
- Cameron, TX14.3 mi · 5,306 people · home $125,000
- Caldwell, TX20.3 mi · 3,993 people · home $220,800
- Taylor, TX25.7 mi · 16,267 people · home $285,800
- Hearne, TX28.9 mi · 4,544 people · home $83,200
Rockdale questions
Is Rockdale, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockdale scores better for retirees than 64% of Texas towns and quieter than 24%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Rockdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockdale is valued at $230,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,590, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,115 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockdale?
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 38.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Rockdale get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 30, 1954. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)