The Town FilesRock Island, Washington
City in Douglas County · population 1,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $273,500
- Household income
- $69,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 37.8
Rock Island is a city of 1,279 people in Douglas County, Washington. The median home is worth $273,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns, quieter than 82% of Washington towns.
How Rock Island ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rock Island is worth $273,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $69,861, which is more affordable than 89% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,143 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Island | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $273,500 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,143 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $69,861 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rock Island
| People | Rock Island | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Rock Island
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 7.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.5 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Rock Island since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 19, 2004 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2004.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 4, 2021 | Fire | DR-4584: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 7, 2020 | Fire | FM-5351: Cold Springs/Pearl Hill Fire |
| July 12, 2020 | Fire | FM-5320: Road 11 Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 12,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,441 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Rock Island itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Rock Island
1 public school with 308 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Island Elementary | K-6 | 308 | 16.2 |
Towns near Rock Island
- South Wenatchee, WA7.0 mi · 1,522 people · home $249,100
- East Wenatchee, WA7.3 mi · 14,158 people · home $429,200
- Wenatchee, WA9.8 mi · 35,508 people · home $433,700
- Sunnyslope, WA13.4 mi · 4,041 people · home $714,200
- Quincy, WA16.7 mi · 7,543 people · home $336,800
- Cashmere, WA18.2 mi · 3,248 people · home $442,900
- Waterville, WA19.3 mi · 1,134 people · home $262,000
- Entiat, WA21.3 mi · 1,326 people · home $364,500
Rock Island questions
Is Rock Island, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Island scores better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns and quieter than 82%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Rock Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Island is valued at $273,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,861, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,143 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Island?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.8 inches of precipitation a year and 16.5 inches of snow.
Does Rock Island get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Rock Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 19, 2004. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)