Rock Island 73 Excellent
Rock Island Livability #279 ranked city in Illinois#5,326 ranked city in the USARanks better than 81% 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 Island

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • 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.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • 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
  • 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 Island?

Located in the state of Illinois, Rock Island is a medium-sized city with a population of 38,640 people. According to the most recent Census, 68% of Rock Island residents are White, 19% Black and 5% Asian. In Rock Island, only 46% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Rock Island offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Rock Island could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Rock Island and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from commute, health & safety, education, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Illinois and national averages.

With a livability score of 73/100, Rock Island is ranked #5,035 in the United States and #254 in Illinois. Based on the scores for each individual category, Rock Island has been rewarded with high marks for amenities (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Rock Island does not have favorable ranks for the following: crime (F), education (F) and employment (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Rock Island, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Rock Island undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Some of the more notable entertainment options include: Jumer's Casino Rock Island, Circa 21, and Rock Island Arsenal Museum.

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 Island has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Rock Island is actually affordable. The median home price for Rock Island homes is $189,842, which is 38.5% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rock Island, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 22.9% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rock Island

See all the best places to live around Rock Island

How Do You Rate The Livability In Rock Island?

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 Island, IL Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Rock Island transportation information

      Statistic Rock Island Illinois National
      Average one way commute18min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.2%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.1%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.8%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk5.4%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home5.0%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Rock Island, 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.