Population 9,621 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Rock County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Rock County
Household size in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Rock County are small: just 2.35 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.48 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.1 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Rock County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rock County: 6.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Rock County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Minnesota counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rock County
Renters in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Rock County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (45.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Rock County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Minnesota's 87 counties, only eight have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Rock County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1953 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $583 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $605 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $709 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $839 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$256 | +$522 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Rock County costs $839 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $256 a month since 2006–10, up 44%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rock County
Bachelor's degrees in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Rock County (26.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Rock County is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.3% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Rock County has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Rock County has lower unemployment than the great majority of Minnesota counties. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rock County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | 2.35 | 41.8 | 6.9% | 23.4% | 5.8% | 1959 | $839 | 26.5% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| Minnehaha County | 2.40 | 37.0 | 11.2% | 36.9% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,068 | 35.5% | 92.7% | 2.3% |
| Nobles County | 2.80 | 36.8 | 15.1% | 25.8% | 9.1% | 1966 | $910 | 16.7% | 79.4% | 3.2% |
| McCook County | 2.51 | 39.4 | 6.4% | 20.5% | 11.5% | 1968 | $1,021 | 30.3% | 94.5% | 1.9% |
| Jackson County | 2.27 | 45.5 | 7.8% | 19.9% | 10.6% | 1959 | $842 | 26.4% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| Hanson County | 3.02 | 37.8 | 4.2% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 1959 | $848 | 22.7% | 93.3% | 1.8% |
| Martin County | 2.24 | 43.7 | 10.0% | 31.1% | 9.1% | 1959 | $864 | 23.6% | 95.1% | 4.1% |
| Davison County | 2.22 | 41.7 | 10.0% | 38.5% | 9.2% | 1971 | $836 | 22.3% | 91.0% | 0.9% |
| Faribault County | 2.27 | 44.6 | 10.3% | 20.8% | 12.3% | 1951 | $845 | 21.8% | 91.6% | 3.4% |
| Aurora County | 2.41 | 41.2 | 8.3% | 27.3% | 15.4% | 1962 | $772 | 21.7% | 92.0% | 1.2% |
| Freeborn County | 2.40 | 45.2 | 12.0% | 20.5% | 9.7% | 1958 | $938 | 17.6% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: McMullen County, TX · Mills County, IA · Millard County, UT · Mercer County, IL · Menard County, IL · Meigs County, TN · Meagher County, MT · Meade County, KS · McPherson County, SD · McPherson County, NE
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rock County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.