The Town FilesRocky Ripple, Indiana
Town in Marion County · population 655 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,800
- Household income
- $72,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 42.9
Rocky Ripple is a town of 655 people in Marion County, Indiana. The median home is worth $194,800, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Indiana towns, hipper than 97% of Indiana towns, more upscale than 96% of Indiana towns.
How Rocky Ripple ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rocky Ripple is worth $194,800, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $72,813, which is more affordable than 42% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,463 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rocky Ripple | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,800 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,463 | $888 |
| Median household income | $72,813 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rocky Ripple
| People | Rocky Ripple | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rocky Ripple
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.7 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rocky Ripple since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 14, 1972 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 174 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 29, 1965.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 625,533 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,163 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Rocky Ripple itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Rocky Ripple
- Meridian Hills, IN2.8 mi · 1,774 people · home $661,700
- Indianapolis, IN5.2 mi · 887,642 people · home $224,800
- Speedway, IN5.5 mi · 13,952 people · home $228,600
- Warren Park, IN7.9 mi · 1,490 people · home $185,800
- Clermont, IN8.1 mi · 1,384 people · home $194,000
- Carmel, IN8.2 mi · 99,757 people · home $486,800
- Lawrence, IN9.8 mi · 49,370 people · home $230,100
- Beech Grove, IN10.2 mi · 14,717 people · home $182,600
Rocky Ripple questions
Is Rocky Ripple, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rocky Ripple scores better for retirees than 70% of Indiana towns and quieter than 34%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Rocky Ripple?
The median owner-occupied home in Rocky Ripple is valued at $194,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,813, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,463 a month.
What is the weather like in Rocky Ripple?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 26.7 inches of snow.
Does Rocky Ripple get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rocky Ripple since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 14, 1972. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)