Population 1,319 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rock County
Household size in Rock County
| Period | Rock County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Rock County is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Rock County has smaller households than most Nebraska counties.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.6 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.8 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.9 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.4 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.2 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
Rock County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has dropped from 49.6 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rock County: 3.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Only seven of Nebraska's 93 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.7% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +15.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Rock County rent their homes (30.7%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. That is in line with the rest of Nebraska. Among homeowners, 70.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Rock County: 27.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Rock County has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Nebraska counties.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Rock County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Rock County has newer homes than most.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $549 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $557 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $495 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $648 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$99 | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Rock County pays $648 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 26.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of Nebraska's 93 counties, only eight have lower rents.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Rock County (27.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Rock County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.0% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Rock County is a bit above the national rate: 92.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Nebraska. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Rock County has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.3% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.1% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.2% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.0% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rock County has been low: just 1.0% 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 Nebraska counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.25 | 48.4 | 3.0% | 30.7% | 27.4% | 1968 | $648 | 27.4% | 92.1% | 1.0% |
| Brown County | 2.22 | 45.3 | 6.4% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 1959 | $888 | 23.9% | 92.5% | 1.6% |
| Holt County | 2.52 | 43.2 | 7.5% | 27.7% | 17.1% | 1965 | $757 | 29.6% | 94.1% | 1.1% |
| Knox County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 8.5% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 1963 | $634 | 18.9% | 92.5% | 3.7% |
| Cedar County | 2.38 | 43.7 | 5.3% | 20.4% | 12.1% | 1963 | $710 | 23.7% | 96.4% | 1.7% |
| Dixon County | 2.56 | 42.7 | 12.1% | 23.5% | 12.1% | 1953 | $688 | 23.1% | 84.5% | 2.4% |
| Union County | 2.33 | 41.0 | 7.4% | 26.9% | 4.2% | 1989 | $1,078 | 37.7% | 96.0% | 3.1% |
| Dakota County | 2.94 | 34.0 | 12.7% | 36.1% | 6.5% | 1970 | $1,051 | 14.4% | 78.7% | 4.7% |
| Woodbury County | 2.63 | 37.1 | 15.0% | 31.8% | 8.1% | 1960 | $1,067 | 23.7% | 87.4% | 4.0% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Sioux County | 2.39 | 40.5 | 3.3% | 40.4% | 27.8% | 1958 | $759 | 22.2% | 94.3% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pawnee County, NE · McHenry County, ND · McIntosh County, GA · McIntosh County, ND · McLean County, KY · McLean County, ND · Ontonagon County, MI · Osborne County, KS · Ozark County, MO · Palo Alto County, IA
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.
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