The Town FilesRock, Wisconsin
Town in Wood County · population 787 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,300
- Household income
- $93,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 53.9
Rock is a town of 787 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $288,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 82% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 76% of Wisconsin towns.
How Rock ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rock is worth $288,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $93,333, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $951 |
| Median household income | $93,333 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Rock
| People | Rock | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Rock
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 24.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 23, 2011 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 23, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Rock itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Rock
- Lynn, WI5.9 mi · 834 people · home $251,400
- Cameron, WI6.2 mi · 539 people · home $255,800
- Lincoln, WI6.4 mi · 1,593 people · home $307,400
- Wood, WI7.4 mi · 757 people · home $235,100
- Marshfield, WI8.8 mi · 18,929 people · home $177,800
- Fremont, WI8.9 mi · 1,312 people · home $173,300
- Pittsville, WI9.2 mi · 813 people · home $125,000
- Hewitt, WI9.6 mi · 796 people · home $260,100
Rock questions
Is Rock, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock scores better for retirees than 62% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 49%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock is valued at $288,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,333, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.1 inches of snow.
Does Rock get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 23, 2011. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)