Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Schools
The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Rock Rapids, Iowa is a small city with a population of 2,555 people. At 94%, the majority of the Rock Rapids population is White; this is followed by 1% Asian and 0% Black. If you are looking for a family friendly city, Rock Rapids might be a good fit as 76% of the population over 15 years old are married, and 46% have kids who are 18 years old or younger. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Rock Rapids offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 12 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Living in Rock Rapids can be a positive experience for anyone relocating to the area. Having said that, in the state of Iowa, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like commute, health & safety, education, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Rock Rapids and in the areas around Rock Rapids is a much easier task.
The livability score in Rock Rapids is 81 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 96th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, Rock Rapids would be considered a very livable city! The cherry on top is that Rock Rapids also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. If we examine each of the categories on their own, we see that Rock Rapids ranks well for crime (A+), education (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Rock Rapids does not rank well for, including: amenities (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.
Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Rock Rapids have an average test score of 79%, which is well above the US average.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Rock Rapids can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Rock Rapids is actually affordable. The median home price for Rock Rapids homes is $160,700, which is 21% higher than the Iowa average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rock Rapids, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 8.3% higher than the Iowa average.
| Statistic | Rock Rapids | Iowa | National |
| Average one way commute | 12min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.5% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.3% | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.0% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 8.8% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
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