Township · Illinois
Rock Island Township, Illinois
Rock Island Township, township, in Rock Island County, Illinois. Rock Island Township had 15,632 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 16,070 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,831 (±30). GEOID 1716165091.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,632
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,070 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,831 ±30
Median household income
$41,155
±$5,188 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$96,500
±$5,708 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$860
±$53 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Rock Island Township and what county is it in?
Rock Island Township is a township in Rock Island County, Illinois. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 3,365 residents per square mile in 2020.
2 places lie inside Rock Island Township: Rock Island (city, 37,108 in 2020) and Rock Island Arsenal (CDP, 182 in 2020).
Rock Island Township is in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Rock Island Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,632 people lived in Rock Island Township on July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 16,070 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,831 (±30).
| Measure | Rock Island Township | Rock Island County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,831±30 | 142,757 | −1,457 |
| Households | 5,501±395 | 61,733 | −649 |
| Average household size | 2.35±0.16 | 2.23 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,463±416 | 66,759 | −834 |
Rock Island Township's population since 2000
From 17,763 in 2000 to 15,632 in 2025: down 12.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Rock Island Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Rock Island Township?
The median resident of Rock Island Township is 27.0 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 13.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 20.6%. 11.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rock Island Township | Rock Island County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.0±2.5 | 40.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.2%±3.1 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.7%±2.1 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Male | 50.6%±2.3 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 19.8%±3.2 pts | 14.2% | +6.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.2%±3.7 pts | 67.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 20.6%±2.7 pts | 10.9% | −7.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2%±0.9 pts | 2.6% | −1.8 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.1%±1.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.2%±2.4 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.6%±3.0 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.5%±1.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 16.6%±2.2 pts | 15.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.8%±1.8 pts | 6.1% | +3.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.1%±2.4 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.5%±3.2 pts | 24.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.5%±1.8 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 76.5%±3.2 pts | 88.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.7%±1.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Rock Island Township earn?
Half of Rock Island Township's 5,501 households earn less than $41,155 a year (±$5,188), against $67,159 in Rock Island County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $48,639 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $7,484 after inflation. 32.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rock Island Township | Rock Island County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,155±$5,188 | $67,159 | −$7,484 |
| Mean household income | $58,456±$5,277 | $85,299 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,200±$2,159 | $36,842 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 32.9%±5.6 pts | 15.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 51.0%±11.6 pts | 23.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 28.7%±4.2 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.1%±4.2 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.0%±4.7 pts | 90.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Rock Island Township?
Owners occupy 49.2% of Rock Island Township's occupied homes and renters 50.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,500 by its owner (±$5,708). The median renter pays $860 a month including utilities, and 51.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rock Island Township | Rock Island County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,500±$5,708 | $150,400 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $860±$53 | $889 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.5%±7.8 pts | 39.3% | +12.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,197±$69 | $1,360 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 49.2%±4.7 pts | 69.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 50.8%±4.7 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Housing units | 6,463±416 | 66,759 | −834 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 11.0%±4.5 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.1%±4.4 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5%±0.9 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 54.8%±4.1 pts | 21.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.2%±3.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Rock Island Township work and get to work?
70.2% of Rock Island Township's workers drive alone and 9.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.4%.
| Measure | Rock Island Township | Rock Island County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.9%±2.9 pts | 61.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4%±2.6 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 70.2%±3.7 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4%±3.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.2%±1.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 6.3%±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.3%±2.3 pts | 8.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.6 min±1.7 | 19.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Rock Island Township?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Rock Island Township, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $25,439 (Tract 226) to $54,967 (Tract 233).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 228Rock Island County | 5,830 | $50,586 |
| Tract 233Rock Island County | 3,267 | $54,967 |
| Tract 235Rock Island County | 2,114 | $43,690 |
| Tract 226Rock Island County | 1,625 | $25,439 |
| Tract 245Rock Island County | 1,916 | $36,979 |
| Tract 236Rock Island County | 1,362 | $34,403 |
| Tract 223Rock Island County | 2,195 | $42,200 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Rock Island Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Rock Island Township compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Rock Island Township is the 800th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 116th-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.
Rock Island Township ranks 1,360th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 116th | 1,407 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 825th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 140th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,360th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,369th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,210th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 815th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 10th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 971st | 1,369 |
| Median age | 1,369th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,361st | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 639th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 1,265th | 1,382 |
Rock Island Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Rock Island Township with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Rock Island Township?
7 of the 57 figures for Rock Island Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Rock Island Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.