Rock Rapids, IA Profile: Facts & Data

Rock Rapids, Iowa - Basic Facts

The City of Rock Rapids had a population of 2,865 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Rock Rapids is located at latitude 43.4272 and longitude -96.1759 in Lyon County. The formal boundaries for the City of Rock Rapids encompass a land area of 3.96 sq. miles and a water area of 0 sq. miles. Lyon County is in the Central time zone (GMT -6).

The City of Rock Rapids has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The City of Rock Rapids is located within Township of Rock, a minor civil division (MCD) of Lyon County.

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Rock Rapids, IA Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	2,865 (100%)
Population in Households	2,756 (96.2%)
Population in Families	2,260 (78.9%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	109 ( 3.8%)
Population Density	681
Diversity Index²	21


INCOME
Median Household Income	$73,117
Average Household Income	$89,409
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	20%
Per Capita Income	$34,150
Wealth Index⁵	74
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Moderate (57.5)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	1,194 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	856 (71.7%)
Renter Occupied HU	236 (19.8%)
Vacant Housing Units	102 ( 8.5%)
Median Home Value	$231,911
Average Home Value	$384,854
Housing Affordability Index³	116

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	1,092
Average Household Size	2.52
Family Households	680
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

1,194 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

856 (71.7%)

Renter Occupied HU

236 (19.8%)

Vacant Housing Units

102 ( 8.5%)

Median Home Value

$231,911

Average Home Value

$384,854

Housing Affordability Index³

116

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

1,092

Average Household Size

2.52

Family Households

680

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	1.78%	0.64%
Households	0.77%	0.40%
Families		0.18%
Median Household Income		1.13%
Per Capita Income		0.91%
Owner Occupied HU		0.62%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

1.78%

0.64%

Households

0.77%

0.40%

Families

0.18%

Median Household Income

1.13%

Per Capita Income

0.91%

Owner Occupied HU

0.62%

Rock Rapids, IA - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Rock Rapids to the other 1,026 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in Iowa by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 126	88th
Population Density	# 471	54th
Median Household Income	# 578	44th
Housing Affordability Index	# 492	48th
Per Capita Income	# 826	20th
Diversity Index	# 327	68th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 126

88th

Population Density

# 471

54th

Median Household Income

# 578

44th

Housing Affordability Index

# 492

48th

Per Capita Income

# 826

20th

Diversity Index

# 327

68th

Iowa Census Data Comparison Tool

Rock Rapids, IA Profile: Facts & Data

Rock Rapids, Iowa - Basic Facts

Rock Rapids, IA Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Rock Rapids, IA - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Rock Rapids, IA - Most Popular Things to Do

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Lyon County