Rock Island

Downtown Rock Island homes are built in familiar styles, from four-squares to bungalows.
Downtown Rock Island homes are built in familiar styles, from four-squares to bungalows.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park is one of several community parks in the Douglas Park neighborhood.
Residents will find artistic murals on the sides of many buildings in Downtown Rock Island.

Rock Island, IL Area Guide

A small city on the river with culture to spare.

Quad Cities Art Biking Bicycling Nightlife

Forming the southwest corner of the Quad Cities area on the Illinois/Iowa border, Rock Island shares many cultural resources with its neighboring cities, particularly Moline and Davenport. The city oversees more than 850 acres of public parkland, giving residents lots of options for outdoor recreation. Rock Island also features bike lanes across the city, making it easy for cyclists to get around town.

The part of downtown known as The District is the cultural epicenter of Rock Island, home to art galleries, performance venues, and world-class dining and nightlife. The District is also where you’ll find festivals and other outdoor events happening year-round, celebrating everything from Mardi Gras to America’s largest go-kart street race.

Explore the City

Martin Luther King Jr. Park is one of several community parks in the Douglas Park neighborhood.

Residents will find artistic murals on the sides of many buildings in Downtown Rock Island.

Downtown Rock Island homes are built in familiar styles, from four-squares to bungalows.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Rock Island, IL is $474 for a studio, $691 for one bedroom, $834 for two bedrooms, and $1,340 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Rock Island has increased by 0.9% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$691/month
595 Sq Ft
House
$1,230/month
773 Sq Ft
Condo
$774/month
638 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Rock Island, IL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Rock Island, IL is 9.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Rock Island is 19.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $474 - $1,340. You can expect to pay 2.8% less for groceries, 19.2% less for utilities, and 4.6% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

20 / 100

Minimal Public Transit

Transit

10 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

70 / 100

Schools

Denkmann Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

367 Students

Eugene Field Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

471 Students

Earl H Hanson Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

209 Students

Ridgewood Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

279 Students

Rock Island Center for Math and Science

Public

Grades PK-5

436 Students

Washington Jr High School

Public

Grades 6-8

484 Students

Edison Jr High School

Public

Grades 6-8

422 Students

Mlk A R T Program

Public

Grades 6-8

Rock Island High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,810 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Mississippi River Visitor Center
  • Longview Park and Conservatory
  • Quad City Botanical Center
  • Putnam Museum & IMAX
  • Schuetzen Park Historic Site

Airports

  • Quad Cities International

Top Apartments in Rock Island

Houses for Rent in Rock Island

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.