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CITY

Rolfe

Iowa · 489 residents (2025 est.) · 1.053 sq mi
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The short version

Rolfe has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,250. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $48,500. Households here earn about 32% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
626
−7%since 2000
from 675 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
594 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 641 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.6
−14%since 2000
from 45.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:489 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4865556256957641990201020202024Rolfe
2024626
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,250
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,861 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,412
+72%since 2000
from $12,426 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.3%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.369
−13%since 2010
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction13.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food4.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade1.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$48,500
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$583
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.8%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
16.2% rent
Vacancy rate
26.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.2%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.8%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
0.9
−7%since 2000
from 1.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
37
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rolfe on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(658)
Black0.4%(3)
Hispanic / Latino1%(7)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.1%(27)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(584)
Black0.8%(5)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(15)
Asian0.8%(5)
Other2.7%(17)
Diversity Score16%(100)
Diversity Score
16
+295%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+49%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.8%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
20.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.4%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
58.6%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
41.4%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.5%
−36.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
30.5%
+15.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−71.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.6%
+10.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2016
from 6.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rolfe, Iowa?

Rolfe, Iowa has about 626 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rolfe, Iowa?

The typical household in Rolfe, Iowa earns about $51,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rolfe, Iowa expensive?

In Rolfe, Iowa, the median home is worth about $48,500, and the typical rent is about $583 a month.

How educated are people in Rolfe, Iowa?

About 8.7% of adults age 25 and over in Rolfe, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rolfe, Iowa?

About 13.5% of people in Rolfe, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rolfe, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Rolfe, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 115 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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