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Rock County

WI · Pop. 163,944 · Mixed County

35/100Homestead Score

Rock County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Wisconsin, spanning 718 square miles with 163,944 residents at a density of 228.3 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $216,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.69%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 164-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.6°F and average winter lows of 13.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 35.2 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Mercy Health System Corp is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.69%
Growing Season: 164 days
Broadband: 95.7%
Density: 228.3/sq mi

Pros

  • Broadband reaches 95.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Mercy Health System Corp, with an emergency room, is just 2.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.5% reflects a stable local job base.
  • A low poverty rate of 10% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A 164-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.69% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
  • Average winter lows of 13.9°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Rock County, WI is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
35/100
Median home price
$216k
Property tax
1.69%
Growing season
164 days (zone 5b)
Annual rainfall
35.2"
Broadband
95.7%
Nearest hospital
Mercy Health System Corp, 2.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.69%
Median Household Income$74,390
Poverty Rate10%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$216K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5b
Growing Season164 days
Annual Rainfall35.2 inches
Avg Summer High81.6°F
Avg Winter Low13.9°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought5/10
Wildfire3/10
Tornado10/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalMercy Health System Corp (2.5 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities4

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage95.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.5%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Rock County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Rock County?
Rock County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 164-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.6°F, and average winter lows of 13.9°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $216,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.69%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 95.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Mercy Health System Corp is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.