Very AffordableNear National AverageRock Island SD 41
Second Avenue - Rock Island, Illinois · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0Quarters 1 (Rock Island) · Kepper66 / CC BY-SA 3.0Mississippi River Lock 15 019 (969031250) · Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan / CC BY-SA 2.0Rockiscentbridge · Madmaxmarchhare at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Rock Island is a small city of 37,264 in Illinois, with a median household income of $55,732
and a 7.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rock Island stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rock Island is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rock Island 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: 89.3
Rock Island's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rock Island costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rock Island, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$800
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,732
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Rock Island's violent crime rate is 544.1 per 100,000 residents
— 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
544.1 /100k
Property Crime
2714.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rock Island is served primarily by Rock Island SD 41.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rock Island, IL
National Avg
School District
Rock Island SD 41
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rock Island sees average highs of 31.8°F in January
and 86.1°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Rock Island's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rock Island roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,600 and median rent is $800/month.
Rock Island's violent crime rate is 544.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2714.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rock Island are operated by Rock Island SD 41.
The district has 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rock Island, IL has a population of 37,264, a median household income of $55,732, and an unemployment rate of 7.3%.
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 Island averages 31.8°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rock Island, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61201.
The population of Rock Island, Illinois is 37,264 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rock Island: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $115,600, median household income $55,732, crime index 138 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rock Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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