© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Rock Island.
About
Life in Rock Island
Rock Island offers an affordable Midwestern lifestyle with a median home value around $125,900 and median rent near $842 monthly, making it accessible for families and first-time buyers. The Arsenal is a major employment anchor with 6,000 jobs, though the broader economy shows signs of contraction with population declining 3.6% and unemployment at 5.2%. The community is genuinely diverse, with established Latino, African American, and Asian populations, including a significant Burmese American presence.
Rock Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Foreign-Born
8.0%
Broadband Internet
86.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Rock Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rock Island, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.0%), and 6.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 34% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Rock Island
In Rock Island, rent runs 34% below the IL average, and home values are 52% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,979
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $124,624 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Rock Island
Unemployment in Rock Island is 0.6 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Rock Island Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.3 min avg
How Rock Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rock Island, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Quad City International Airport (MLI)
Regional airport · few flights342k passengers boarded in 2025
- 142 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 84% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rock Island runs 84% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
606.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,460.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rock Island Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rock Island County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rock Island County, which includes Rock Island, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 28 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 12 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Rock Island County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rock Island County, which includes Rock Island, is typically good — 244 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
244
per year
Moderate Days
119
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Rock Island County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rock Island has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.3"
Annual Snowfall
36.1"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 15°F | 1.66" |
| Feb | 37°F | 19°F | 1.83" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.62" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.81" |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.67" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 5.01" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.23" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.97" |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.32" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 2.81" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.30" |
| Dec | 37°F | 21°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rock Island
Rock Island has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Trinity Rock Island
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Trinity Rock Island · 2701 17th St
- Hospital campus: Trinity Medical Center · 4600 3rd St, Moline
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Genesis Medical Center-davenport
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.2 mi away · Davenport
Eagle View Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 7.1 mi away · Bettendorf
Trinity - Bettendorf
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Bettendorf
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rock Island
Rock Island's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Rock Island
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,490 students · in-state tuition $53,346 · 78% graduate · median earnings $67,144 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,916 students · in-state tuition $38,113 · 65% graduate · median earnings $66,659 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rock Island
Rock Island has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
42 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rock Island
Rock Island Public Library
401 Nineteenth Street, Rock Island
Southwest Branch Library
9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island
Cities Near Rock Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rock Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rock Island FAQ
Is Rock Island, Illinois affordable?⌄
Rock Island's median rent is $842/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,041/year. Median home value is $125,900.
Is Rock Island, Illinois safe?⌄
Rock Island's violent crime rate was 606 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2461 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rock Island, Illinois?⌄
Rock Island has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rock Island, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Rock Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $842/month and median household income is $59,041/year. The median home value is $125,900. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rock Island, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Rock Island is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from