Community Information

Integrity urgent care clinic now open in rockdale!

https://rockdalemdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Integrity-Urgent-Care-Clinic-Opens-in-Rockdale-4.pdfIntegrity Urgent Care Clinic Opens in Rockdale

Community

The Rockdale Independent School District (RISD) delivers an excellent educational opportunity for the 1,500 enrolled students. Mission Statement – Empower and challenge all students to achieve personal excellence for college and career success.

Campuses – 4
Avg SAT score – 1090 
Avg ACT score – 24

RISD just passed a $35 million bond election in May 2023 to make needed improvements to all campuses.

2023 Niche Ratings
#154 of 1018 Best Texas Districts for Athletes in Texas
#268 of 1032 Most Diverse School Districts in Texas

Diversity
Sports

College Prep
B Teachers
B – Rockdale Intermediate
B Rockdale Elementary

Rockdale is about an hour from Texas A&M, UT-Austin, and Baylor. Other area universities include Southwestern University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas A&M Central Texas. Junior Colleges and technical schools include Temple College and TSTC in Waco.

Cost of Living and Housing

According to BestPlaces.net, the cost of living in Rockdale is 25% cheaper than the USA and 20% cheaper than Texas.
Rockdale Texas USA
Overall 75.2 94.2 100
Median Home Cost $200,200 297,600 338,100
Housing 47.9 83.5 100
Utilities 96.4 99.2 100
Groceries 90.3 93.7 100
Transportation 70.5 103.3 100
Miscellaneous 70.3 83.2 100

Tax Climate

Unlike other states, Texas does not impose a corporate or personal income tax which can lead to significant tax savings for Texas residents.

The property tax revenue collected by local entities provide funding for public services such as schools, police and fire protection, libraries, and street maintenance.

2023 Property Tax Rates – per $100 assessed value Exemptions Offered
Rockdale ISD $1.0691 Freeport
City of Rockdale $0.850 Freeport, Goods in Transit
Milam County $0.511 Freeport, Goods in Transit
Milam County ESD  $0.089  
Total $2.519  
Sales Tax Rates  
State of Texas 6.25%
City of Rockdale 1.0%
Milam County 0.5%
Rockdale MDD 0.5%
Total 8.25%

The State of Texas levies a franchise tax or privilege tax on most taxable business entities operating in Texas.

2022 and 2023 rates  
Item Rate
No tax due threshold $1,230,000
Tax rate (retail or wholesale) 0.375%
Tax rate (other than retail or wholesale 0.75%
Compensation deduction limit $400,000
EZ computation total revenue threshold $20 million
EZ computation rate 0.331%

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/

For more information on the franchise tax, which business entities are subject to the tax, and calculation of the tax, please visit https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-806.php5

Climate

Rockdale’s climate is characterized by hot, dry summers, and mild winters.  Rockdale is located far enough south that it does not frequently experience major winter storms or severe weather like tornadoes.  Rockdale is far enough inland that it does not feel the effects of tropical storms from the Gulf of Mexico.

The air in Rockdale is clean – Milam County is located in an air quality attainment area.

The hottest month of the year is August and coldest month is January

HighAvgLow
August958474
January604941

Source: weatherspark.com