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CITY

Rock Island

Illinois · 36,225 residents (2025 est.) · 16.871 sq mi
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The short version

Rock Island has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,041. Population has declined 9% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $125,900. The poverty rate of 21.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 29% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,151
−9%since 2000
from 39,684 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,143 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 2,352 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.4
+3%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:36,225 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
36K37K38K40K41K1990201020202024Rock Island
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,041
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,729 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,053
+77%since 2000
from $19,202 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.1%
+17.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
+7%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$125,900
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$842
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $437 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 65.1% in 2000
35.2% rent
Vacancy rate
7.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+6%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rock Island on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.3%(29,485)
Black17%(6,741)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(2,341)
Asian0.7%(290)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.8%(19,367)
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.5%(22,602)
Black15.6%(5,643)
Hispanic / Latino13.3%(4,806)
Asian3.8%(1,359)
Other4.8%(1,741)
Diversity Score70.4%(25,457)
Diversity Score
70
+44%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.5%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.4%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.3 min
+72%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.0%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−81.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+13.5 ptssince 2017
from 73.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 89.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 5.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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ROCK ISLAND VS
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ROCK ISLAND VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rock Island, Illinois?

Rock Island, Illinois has about 36,151 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rock Island, Illinois earns about $59,041 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rock Island, Illinois expensive?

In Rock Island, Illinois, the median home is worth about $125,900, and the typical rent is about $842 a month.

How educated are people in Rock Island, Illinois?

About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Rock Island, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rock Island, Illinois?

About 21.0% of people in Rock Island, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rock Island, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Rock Island, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,310 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 →