City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Rock Island, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rock Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

36,758
Residents
$57,292
Median income
$118,400
Median home
$1,143
Median rent (state)

Rock Island - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Rock Island lands in the 31st percentile for household income and the 13th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

31st
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
13th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rock Island, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 36,758 residents in Rock Island, a small city within Illinois. The typical household in Rock Island brings in $57,292 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.4%. Home values in Rock Island run a median of $118,400, and the median resident age is 37.1 years. About 22.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. Rock Island's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3258.9 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,143 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). Commute times here average 17.8 minutes, with 76.4% driving alone and 8.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 84.1 out of 100 (High).

Population

36,758 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$57,292 /yr

Poverty 13.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Rock Island compare to other US cities?

Rock Island measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 13% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Illinois, Rock Island ranks #421 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rock Island against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Rock Island toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,335 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Rock Island ranks #307 - the 77th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rock Island only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#910 of 1,311
31st percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#525 of 1,336
57th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#660 of 1,315
50th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#307 of 1,335
77th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#487 of 1,336
63rd percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

31stIncome percentile
13thSafety percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income · 13th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rock Island's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rock Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Rock Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Rock Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$118,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rock Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rock Island, IL Rock Island, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rock Island, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rock Island, IL median $57,292/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rock Island, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rock Island, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
36,758
Median Income
$57,292
Median Home Value
$118,400
Median Age
37.1
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Labor force participation
56.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3258.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
544.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2714.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
35,500 residents36,000 residents36,500 residents37,000 residents37,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 37,006 residents 36,225 residents ▼ -2.1%
Rock Island's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 47
2022 4
2023 1
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.8 minutes
Drive Alone
76.4%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
8.8%
Other
1.2%

Based on 16,277 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rock Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,143/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
84.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Hanover Park
36,850 people
Carpentersville
37,544 people
Addison
35,470 people
Oswego
35,463 people
Calumet City
35,253 people
Urbana
38,447 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rock Island's 36,758 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oakton, VA
36,776 people
Richfield, MN
36,725 people
Muskogee, OK
36,819 people
La Presa, CA
36,669 people
Brighton, NY
36,633 people
South Valley, NM
36,605 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rock Island's $57,292 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Del Rey, CA
$57,292 median income
Pittsfield, ME
$57,292 median income
Butterfield, MN
$57,292 median income
Braxton, MS
$57,292 median income
Marion, MS
$57,292 median income
Hollansburg, OH
$57,292 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rock Island, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rock Island, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.0% 16.4% 7.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.5% White 68.0% Black or African American 16.4% Asian 3.4% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 3.8% Two or more races 7.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rock Island compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rock Island (this city) 36,758 $57,292
Hanover Park 36,850 $92,263
Carpentersville 37,544 $86,327
Addison 35,470 $87,587
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rock Island, IL?

What is the population of Rock Island, IL? +

The population of Rock Island, IL stands at 36,758 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rock Island, IL? +

Rock Island households earn a median of $57,292 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rock Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rock Island; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Rock Island, IL safe? +

Rock Island has a total crime rate of 3258.9 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Rock Island, IL? +

The median home value in Rock Island is $118,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.