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Rock Rapids, IA
City in Lyon County, Iowa.
Population
2,661
Land area
4.2sq mi
People per sq mi
632
ZIP codes
0
Rock Rapids and its ZIP codes
Rock Rapids at a glance
- Rock Rapids is about 11 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 137th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $63,942 a year, 15% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $206,700 and median rent is $812 a month.
Local data for Rock Rapids, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rock Rapids, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$63,942
Poverty rate
6.5%
Median home value
$206,700
Median rent
$812/mo
Homeownership
71.3%
Bachelor's or higher
21.7%
Median age
41.0
Average commute
12.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,244), Dutch Americans (645), Mexican Americans (222).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lyon County. PPP loans are for Rock Rapids.
Unemployment rate
2.1%
Sep 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$52,179
4,951 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$75,203
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$78.4M
FY 2026, $6,567 per person
How people get to work
Rock Rapids, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone72.1%
- Carpooled6.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked6.7%
- Bicycle2.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home12.0%
Average one-way commute: 12.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rock Rapids, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
724
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
39
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 6°F
29.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rock Rapids, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.2%
U.S. 33.3% +4.9 pts
Diabetes
11.7%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities near Rock Rapids
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Steen, MNCity | 7.8 mi | 0.4 |
| LesterCity | 8.4 mi | 1.8 |
| AlvordCity | 9 mi | 0.6 |
| Ellsworth, MNCity | 9.8 mi | 0.7 |
| GeorgeCity | 10 mi | 2.3 |
| DoonCity | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| Hills, MNCity | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| LarchwoodCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| Little RockCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| Magnolia, MNCity | 16 mi | 0.8 |
| InwoodCity | 16 mi | 1.4 |
| Luverne, MNCity | 16 mi | 3.7 |
| Beaver Creek, MNCity | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| Rock ValleyCity | 16 mi | 4.5 |
| HullCity | 16 mi | 1.4 |
| MatlockCity | 17 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Rock Rapids, IA in?
- Rock Rapids is in Lyon County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Rock Rapids, IA?
- About 2,661 people live in Rock Rapids, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Rock Rapids?
- Nearby places include Steen, MN (7.8 mi), Lester (8.4 mi), Alvord (9 mi), Ellsworth, MN (9.8 mi), George (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023