Below Average CostHigher than AverageRock Falls ESD 13
Rock Falls downtown 10-2024 · Pdubs.94 / CC BY 4.0Rock Falls band shell 10-2024 · Pdubs.94 / CC BY 4.0Hennepin Canal, from the bridge on East 2nd Street in Rock Falls, Illinois · MalcolmSlaney / CC BY-SA 4.0
Rock Falls is a small town of 8,904 in Illinois, with a median household income of $48,390
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rock Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Rock Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rock Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.1
Rock Falls's overall cost of living index is 90.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rock Falls costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rock Falls, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$83,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$756
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,390
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Rock Falls's violent crime rate is 596.8 per 100,000 residents
— 57% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
596.8 /100k
Property Crime
2972.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rock Falls is served primarily by Rock Falls ESD 13.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rock Falls, IL
National Avg
School District
Rock Falls ESD 13
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rock Falls sees average highs of 29.0°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.8 inches of snow per year.
Rock Falls's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rock Falls roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $83,300 and median rent is $756/month.
Rock Falls's violent crime rate is 596.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2972.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rock Falls are operated by Rock Falls ESD 13.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 14.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rock Falls, IL has a population of 8,904, a median household income of $48,390, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Rock Falls averages 29.0°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches
with about 28.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rock Falls, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61071.
The population of Rock Falls, Illinois is 8,904 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rock Falls: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $83,300, median household income $48,390, crime index 151 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rock Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
