Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
20%
Rock Island, IL
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$693
Population
37,191
Renter Mix
38% Rent
A small city on the river with culture to spare.
Quad Cities
•
Art
•
Biking
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$51,176
Average: $64,761
Education
7,093
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
17,025
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Rock Island has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
38%
Non-Renters
62%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
15%
Other Education
85%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Rock Island, IL is $476 for a studio, $693 for one bedroom, $837 for two bedrooms, and $1,344 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Rock Island has increased by 1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$693/month
595 Sq Ft
House
$1,398/month
1,017 Sq Ft
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 $476 - $1,344. 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
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Rock Island, IL is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Minimal Public Transit
Transit
10
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
70
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
339 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
276 Students
Rock Island Center for Math and Science
Public
Grades PK-5
498 Students
Eugene Field Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
462 Students
Frances Willard Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
287 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
515 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
393 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
Public
Grades 9-12
1,700 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
Nearby City Rentals
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Nearby City Guides
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.