The Town FilesRock Island, Illinois
City in Rock Island County · population 37,108 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,900
- Household income
- $59,041
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 50
- Median age
- 37.4
Rock Island is a city of 37,108 people in Rock Island County, Illinois. The median home is worth $125,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 96% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 94% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Rock Island ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rock Island is worth $125,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $59,041, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Island | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $842 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,041 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Rock Island
| People | Rock Island | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Rock Island
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Island since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1974 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 171 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Rock Island County since 1996
Rock Island County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Rock Island County
Rock Island County had 70,119 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,332 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Rock Island itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Rock Island
13 public schools with 5,952 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Island High School | 9-12 | 1,811 | 17.9 |
| Washington Jr High School | 7-8 | 532 | 15.2 |
| Rock Island Academy | PK-6 | 508 | 13.7 |
| Eugene Field Elem School | K-6 | 460 | 18.4 |
| RICMS | PK-6 | 438 | 15.1 |
| Edison Jr High School | 7-8 | 429 | 15.3 |
| Horace Mann ELC | PK-PK | 372 | 41.3 |
| Denkmann Elem School | K-6 | 353 | 16.8 |
| Frances Willard Elem School | PK-6 | 296 | 13.5 |
| Ridgewood Elem School | PK-6 | 275 | 13.1 |
| Longfellow Elem School | PK-6 | 250 | 13.9 |
| Earl H Hanson Elem School | PK-6 | 228 | 9.1 |
Towns near Rock Island
- Milan, IL2.6 mi · 5,097 people · home $119,300
- Moline, IL4.8 mi · 42,985 people · home $146,300
- Davenport, IA6.1 mi · 101,724 people · home $166,400
- Coal Valley, IL7.9 mi · 3,873 people · home $215,700
- Bettendorf, IA8.8 mi · 39,102 people · home $306,500
- Silvis, IL9.3 mi · 8,003 people · home $161,600
- East Moline, IL10.8 mi · 21,374 people · home $134,600
- Eldridge, IA11.7 mi · 6,726 people · home $350,500
Rock Island questions
Is Rock Island, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Island scores better for retirees than 9% of Illinois towns and quieter than 15%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Rock Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Island is valued at $125,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,041, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Island?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.1 inches of snow.
Does Rock Island get tornadoes?
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1974. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)