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Rockwell, IA
City in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.
Population
986
Land area
3sq mi
People per sq mi
332
ZIP codes
0
Rockwell and its ZIP codes
Rockwell at a glance
- Rockwell is about 5.8 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $60,982 a year, 19% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $163,300 (21% below Iowa) and median rent is $575 a month.
Local data for Rockwell, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rockwell, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,982
Poverty rate
14.8%
Median home value
$163,300
Median rent
$575/mo
Homeownership
74.7%
Bachelor's or higher
18.0%
Median age
42.7
Average commute
19.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (571), Irish Americans (149), Norwegian Americans (119).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cerro Gordo County. PPP loans are for Rockwell.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,649
23,463 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$80,093
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$348M
FY 2026, $8,070 per person
How people get to work
Rockwell, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone84.5%
- Carpooled5.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home8.7%
Average one-way commute: 19.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rockwell, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
749
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
80
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 7°F
36.3 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rockwell, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.1%
U.S. 33.3% +6.8 pts
Diabetes
12.5%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.4%
U.S. 12.8% +3.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.9%
U.S. 11.1% -4.2 pts
Cities near Rockwell
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| SheffieldCity | 6.4 mi | 5.6 |
| SwaledaleCity | 6.5 mi | 0.2 |
| BurchinalCensus-designated place | 7.5 mi | 0.1 |
| DoughertyCity | 8.6 mi | 0.6 |
| ChapinCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 0.1 |
| ThorntonCity | 10 mi | 1.2 |
| PortlandCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 1 |
| Mason CityCity | 11 mi | 28.2 |
| RockfordCity | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| AredaleCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| Clear LakeCity | 14 mi | 10.8 |
| Nora SpringsCity | 15 mi | 2.2 |
| MeserveyCity | 15 mi | 1.5 |
| HansellCity | 16 mi | 0.2 |
| Marble RockCity | 16 mi | 0.8 |
| Rock FallsCity | 16 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Rockwell, IA in?
- Rockwell is in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Rockwell, IA?
- About 986 people live in Rockwell, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Rockwell?
- Nearby places include Sheffield (6.4 mi), Swaledale (6.5 mi), Burchinal (7.5 mi), Dougherty (8.6 mi), Chapin (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023