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CITY

Rockdale

Illinois · 1,969 residents (2025 est.) · 1.411 sq mi
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The short version

Rockdale has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,135. Population has grown 35% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $188,300. At a median age of 27.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 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 27.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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
2,553
+35%since 2000
from 1,888 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,809 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 1,338 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
27.0
−22%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,969 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K3K1990201020202024Rockdale
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,135
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,954 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,329
+46%since 2000
from $18,738 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.6%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.8%
+16.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.374
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.374 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$188,300
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,256
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $597 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.2%
−11.3 ptssince 2000
from 57.5% in 2000
53.8% rent
Vacancy rate
6.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
+20.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+34%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rockdale on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.8%(1,413)
Black0.7%(13)
Hispanic / Latino22%(415)
Asian0.4%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.6%(861)
2024
White, non-Hispanic39.5%(1,008)
Black3.3%(83)
Hispanic / Latino49.7%(1,270)
Asian1.8%(47)
Other5.7%(145)
Diversity Score74%(1,889)
Diversity Score
74
+62%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.7%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 1.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+38%since 2000
from 18.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.9%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
12.0%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.7%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 14.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
77.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2011
from 69.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
16.5%
−36.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
51.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
9.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.6%
−48.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.8%
Unchangedsince 2012
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.2%
−68.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.6%
+20.2 ptssince 2017
from 75.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
83.2%
+14.1 ptssince 2016
from 69.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.1%
−14.8 ptssince 2016
from 29.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rockdale, Illinois?

Rockdale, Illinois has about 2,553 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rockdale, Illinois?

The typical household in Rockdale, Illinois earns about $59,135 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rockdale, Illinois expensive?

In Rockdale, Illinois, the median home is worth about $188,300, and the typical rent is about $1,256 a month.

How educated are people in Rockdale, Illinois?

About 13.7% of adults age 25 and over in Rockdale, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rockdale, Illinois?

About 25.8% of people in Rockdale, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rockdale, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Rockdale, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 844 residents, a change of about 49 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 →