The Town FilesRockwell, Iowa
City in Cerro Gordo County · population 1,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,300
- Household income
- $60,982
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.7
Rockwell is a city of 1,071 people in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The median home is worth $163,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 84% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Rockwell 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 is worth $163,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,982, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $575 a month. 74.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockwell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $575 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,982 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Rockwell
| People | Rockwell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rockwell
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwell since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 11, 2001 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 31, 2003.
Severe weather in Cerro Gordo County since 1996
Cerro Gordo County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County had 23,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,949 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Rockwell itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Rockwell
1 public school with 389 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Fork Elementary at Rockwell | PK-5 | 389 | 15.6 |
Towns near Rockwell
- Sheffield, IA6.4 mi · 1,130 people · home $151,000
- Mason City, IA11.6 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Rockford, IA13.1 mi · 758 people · home $94,600
- Clear Lake, IA14.3 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Nora Springs, IA14.5 mi · 1,369 people · home $134,500
- Hampton, IA16.5 mi · 4,337 people · home $99,400
- Ventura, IA17.4 mi · 711 people · home $389,500
- Dumont, IA19.1 mi · 634 people · home $74,800
Rockwell questions
Is Rockwell, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockwell scores better for retirees than 41% of Iowa towns and quieter than 32%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Rockwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockwell is valued at $163,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,982, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $575 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockwell?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 44.4 inches of snow.
Does Rockwell get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 11, 2001. 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)