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CITY

Rock Falls

Illinois · 8,521 residents (2025 est.) · 3.983 sq mi
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The short version

Rock Falls has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,600. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $83,900. The poverty rate of 25.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,587
−10%since 2000
from 9,580 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,156 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 2,405 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.7
+4%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,521 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K9K9K9K10K1990201020202024Rock Falls
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,600
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,442 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,035
+100%since 2000
from $16,524 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.0%
+16.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.6%
+14.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.497
+20%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade27%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,900
−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$754
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $454 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
32.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
−8%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
27
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rock Falls on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.2%(8,258)
Black0.7%(71)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(1,106)
Asian0.2%(23)
Other0%
Diversity Score28%(2,681)
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.4%(6,391)
Black0.4%(36)
Hispanic / Latino21.7%(1,863)
Asian0.1%(5)
Other3.4%(292)
Diversity Score49.7%(4,270)
Diversity Score
50
+78%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.4%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.5%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.7 min
+19%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.7%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.0%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.3%
−76.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2016
from 7.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rock Falls, Illinois?

Rock Falls, Illinois has about 8,587 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rock Falls, Illinois?

The typical household in Rock Falls, Illinois earns about $49,600 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rock Falls, Illinois expensive?

In Rock Falls, Illinois, the median home is worth about $83,900, and the typical rent is about $754 a month.

How educated are people in Rock Falls, Illinois?

About 13.4% of adults age 25 and over in Rock Falls, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rock Falls, Illinois?

About 25.6% of people in Rock Falls, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rock Falls, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Rock Falls, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,067 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →