Rock Falls 65 Good
Rock Falls Livability #586 ranked city in Illinois#12,282 ranked city in the USARanks better than 58% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Rock Falls

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Crime Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Rock Falls?

Rock Falls is a small-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 9,152 inhabitants. The majority of Rock Falls residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Rock Falls is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Rock Falls, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Rock Falls and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Rock Falls to Illinois and the national average.

Rock Falls has a livability score of 66/100 and is ranked #496 in Illinois and #10,327 in the USA. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Rock Falls ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A-) There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Rock Falls. The following was graded with a concerning score: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (D-).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Rock Falls has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Rock Falls is real estate affordability. The median home price for Rock Falls homes is $127,515, which is 58.7% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rock Falls, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 1.9, which is 45.7% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rock Falls

See all the best places to live around Rock Falls

How Do You Rate The Livability In Rock Falls?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Rock Falls, IL Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Rock Falls transportation information

      Statistic Rock Falls Illinois National
      Average one way commute21min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.7%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.5%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.3%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home2.7%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Rock Falls, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.