The Town FilesRockwell City, Iowa
City in Calhoun County · population 2,240 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,500
- Household income
- $56,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.2
Rockwell City is a city of 2,240 people in Calhoun County, Iowa. The median home is worth $88,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns, hipper than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Rockwell City 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 Rockwell City is worth $88,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $56,741, which is more affordable than 91% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $796 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockwell City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $796 | $820 |
| Median household income | $56,741 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rockwell City
| People | Rockwell City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rockwell City
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwell City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 28, 1979 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 2,788 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,076 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Rockwell City itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Rockwell City
2 public schools with 634 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Calhoun Middle School | 4-8 | 327 | 14.9 |
| South Central Calhoun Elementary School | PK-3 | 307 | 12.8 |
Towns near Rockwell City
- Manson, IA10.1 mi · 1,709 people · home $116,900
- Lake City, IA10.4 mi · 1,731 people · home $100,900
- Pomeroy, IA10.9 mi · 526 people · home $70,200
- Fonda, IA16.8 mi · 636 people · home $58,500
- Sac City, IA18.9 mi · 2,063 people · home $136,000
- Gowrie, IA19.2 mi · 952 people · home $109,900
- Lake View, IA21.8 mi · 1,113 people · home $175,600
- Breda, IA23.1 mi · 500 people · home $144,600
Rockwell City questions
Is Rockwell City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockwell City scores better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns and quieter than 49%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Rockwell City?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockwell City is valued at $88,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,741, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $796 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockwell City?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Rockwell City get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwell City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 28, 1979. 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)