The Town FilesRolfe, Iowa
City in Pocahontas County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $48,500
- Household income
- $51,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.6
Rolfe is a city of 509 people in Pocahontas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $48,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 92% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 85% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 79% of Iowa towns.
How Rolfe 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 Rolfe is worth $48,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $51,250, which is more affordable than 100% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $583 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rolfe | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $48,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $583 | $820 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rolfe
| People | Rolfe | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Rolfe
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 7.5°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolfe since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1953 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 28, 2018.
Severe weather in Pocahontas County since 1996
Pocahontas County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County had 2,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,766 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Rolfe itself the ACS puts it at 20.8%.
Towns near Rolfe
- Pocahontas, IA8.6 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- West Bend, IA11.0 mi · 791 people · home $159,700
- Laurens, IA16.2 mi · 1,264 people · home $60,300
- Humboldt, IA16.8 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Dakota City, IA18.1 mi · 759 people · home $119,800
- Pomeroy, IA19.5 mi · 526 people · home $70,200
- Manson, IA19.7 mi · 1,709 people · home $116,900
- Albert City, IA21.3 mi · 677 people · home $96,500
Rolfe questions
Is Rolfe, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rolfe scores better for retirees than 72% of Iowa towns and quieter than 46%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Rolfe?
The median owner-occupied home in Rolfe is valued at $48,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,250, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $583 a month.
What is the weather like in Rolfe?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 7.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.8 inches of snow.
Does Rolfe get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolfe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 1953. 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)