The Town FilesRockford, Iowa
City in Floyd County · population 758 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,600
- Household income
- $65,428
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.1
Rockford is a city of 758 people in Floyd County, Iowa. The median home is worth $94,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 71% of Iowa towns, quieter than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Rockford ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rockford is worth $94,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $65,428, which is more affordable than 95% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $831 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,428 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rockford
| People | Rockford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rockford
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockford since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 13. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 450 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 30, 1985.
Severe weather in Floyd County since 1996
Floyd County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Floyd County
Floyd County had 5,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,987 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Rockford itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Rockford
2 public schools with 414 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRMR Elementary School | PK-6 | 238 | 15.9 |
| Rockford Junior-Senior High School | 7-12 | 176 | 11.7 |
Towns near Rockford
- Nora Springs, IA7.0 mi · 1,369 people · home $134,500
- Greene, IA13.0 mi · 990 people · home $120,700
- Rockwell, IA13.1 mi · 1,071 people · home $163,300
- Charles City, IA13.8 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Mason City, IA14.4 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Sheffield, IA17.3 mi · 1,130 people · home $151,000
- Osage, IA17.3 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
- Manly, IA20.7 mi · 1,256 people · home $120,300
Rockford questions
Is Rockford, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockford scores better for retirees than 47% of Iowa towns and quieter than 70%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Rockford?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockford is valued at $94,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,428, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockford?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Rockford get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)