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Small town

Living in Rock Rapids, IA

Rock Rapids is a small town of 2,661 people in Lyon County, Iowa. It's about 29 miles from Sioux Falls, SD and 179 miles from Minneapolis, MN, the nearest major city. Summer highs average 85°F and winter highs 25°F, with about 35 inches of snow a year. The typical home is valued around $207k and rent runs about $812 a month.

2,661people
$207kTypical home
$812/moRent
85° / 25°Summer / winter
35"Snow
242Sunny days
86Rain/snow days

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Size & setting

  • Small town of 2,661
  • A standalone small town, not a suburb
  • About 632 people per sq mi
  • 179 mi to Minneapolis, MN
  • 29 mi to Sioux Falls, SD
  • 24 mi to the nearest town of 10k+

Money

  • Typical home $207k (≈$1,303/mo)
  • Median rent $812/mo
  • Median household income $64k
  • Property tax about 1.1% of value
  • 4.0% unemployment

Weather

  • Summer highs around 85°F
  • Winter highs around 25°F
  • Somewhat humid summers (dew point 59°F)
  • 242 sunny days a year (83 totally clear)
  • 123 cloudy days a year
  • 37 of 90 winter days are gray
  • 86 days a year with rain or snow
  • 35" of snow a year
  • 13 days a year with 1"+ of snow
  • Rarely hits 100°F
  • 55 nights a year below 10°F
  • Windier than most places

Safety

  • Very low violent crime (74 per 100k), county-wide
  • Very low property crime (230 per 100k), county-wide

People

  • Median age 41
  • 32% of households have kids
  • 20% are 65 or older
  • 22% have a college degree
  • Not very diverse
  • 4% of residents are college students

Getting around & homes

  • Average commute 15 min
  • 6% walk or take transit to work
  • 31 mi to FSD airport
  • 147 mi to OMA (major hub)
  • 151 mi to the nearest Amtrak station
  • 79% single-family homes
  • Typical home built around 1971
  • 90% of homes have broadband

Outdoors

  • Gently rolling terrain
  • Elevation 1,348 ft
  • 881 mi to the ocean
  • 123 mi to a big lake
  • 25 mi to the nearest trailhead
  • 27 mi to the nearest ski area
  • Campground in town
  • 14 golf courses within 25 mi

Things to do

  • 42 sit-down restaurants within 25 mi
  • 5 bars within 25 mi
  • 17 coffee shops within 25 mi
  • No music venues & clubs within 25 mi
  • 19 museums within 25 mi
  • 3 breweries & distilleries within 25 mi
  • 28 mi to the nearest farmers market

Everyday

  • Schools in the top 4% of Iowa districts (reading)
  • Grocery store in town
  • 1 mi to the nearest ER hospital
  • 27 mi to a 4–5★ hospital
  • 14 mi to the nearest vet
  • 28 mi to the nearest dog park
  • 24 congregations per 10k people
  • 30 mi to the nearest college

Politics

  • Lyon County: R+70 in 2024
  • Iowa: R+13 in 2024

Natural hazards

  • Very low hurricane risk
  • High tornado risk
  • Very low wildfire risk
  • Very low earthquake risk
  • Moderate flood risk
  • Low drought risk
  • High winter storm risk
  • Low heat wave risk
  • Very low volcano risk

Places near Rock Rapids

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