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City · 8,587 residents · Whiteside County, Illinois

Rock Falls , Illinois

In Rock Falls, a typical home is worth $83,900 and typical rent is $754 a month. Compared with all of Whiteside County, the typical home value is 34% lower, typical household income is 27% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $83,900

    34% below the county

    68% below Illinois

    • Rock Falls
    • Whiteside
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $754a month

    12% below the county

    41% below Illinois

    • Rock Falls
    • Whiteside
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $49,600a year

    27% below the county

    41% below Illinois

    • Rock Falls
    • Whiteside
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    10 points below the county

    About the same as Illinois

    • Rock Falls
    • Whiteside
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$122,244
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Rock Falls is in Whiteside County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Whiteside County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rock Falls apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Rock Falls has the 11th lowest typical home value of the 336 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($83,900).

  2. Rock Falls has the 15th lowest typical rent of the 331 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($754).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Rock Falls barely changed; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

  4. The typical household income in Rock Falls is $49,600, 27% less than in Whiteside County as a whole ($67,500).

  5. 67% of households in Rock Falls own their home, against 77% in Whiteside County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Rock Falls

What homes there are in Rock Falls, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Rock Falls, but it weighs less than in Whiteside County: 77% against 82%.

Year built

The typical year built in Rock Falls is 1961, about the same as in Whiteside County (1961).

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

About 65% of rented homes in Rock Falls cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Whiteside County ($945); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,038 a month

Whiteside County: $1,216 a month

Without a mortgage

$566 a month

Whiteside County: $547 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Whiteside County: 55%

Owning costs less in Rock Falls: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,038 a month; in Whiteside County, $1,216. Without one, $566.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, home values in Rock Falls moved so little that the Census cannot say whether they rose or fell.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Rock Falls did not change clearly, according to the Census.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRock FallsWhiteside CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate8.4%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.232.332.462.53
Drive alone 78%81%66%69%
Carpool 10%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate4%3%3%
Work from home 7%6%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Rock Falls look like those in Whiteside County: 2.23 people on average.

To get to work, 78% of workers in Rock Falls drive alone; in Whiteside County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Rock Falls?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Rock Falls, worth $83,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 20% of the typical household income in Rock Falls, which is $49,600 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Whiteside County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rock Falls. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $2,937 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$806

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$82,380
Total interest
$118,525
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,417 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,157 a month

    Your payment · 20%

  • Tight

    $1,157 to $1,488 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,488 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Rock Falls ($49,600 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$806
Principal & interest$558
Property tax$176
Home insurance$35
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$37

You need at least $2,937 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Rock Falls and Whiteside County

Rock Falls is in Whiteside County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Rock Falls's own numbers

Typical home value
$83,900
Typical monthly rent
$754
Typical yearly household income
$49,600
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
2.52%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Whiteside County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$945
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+37%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Whiteside County.

Everything about Whiteside County

Buying

Buying a home in Rock Falls

A typical home in Rock Falls is worth $83,900: 34% below the county and 68% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Rock Falls ($49,600 a year), a typical home costs 1.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Rock Falls 1.7 years
  • Whiteside 1.9 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Whiteside County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Whiteside County rose 51% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Whiteside County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.0% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +37% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +51% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Rock Falls next to Whiteside County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Rock Falls $83,900
  • Whiteside $127,100
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rock Falls $754
  • Whiteside $856
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rock Falls $49,600
  • Whiteside $67,500
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rock Falls next to Whiteside County and Illinois
Measure Rock Falls Whiteside County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $83,900 $127,100 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $754 $856 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,600 $67,500 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 77% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,112 $2,598 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.52% 2.04% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 45% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Whiteside County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Rock Falls

For a typical $83,900 home in Rock Falls, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rock Falls's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $806a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $2,937
    Cash to close
    $5,454
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $37

  • Conventional, 5% down $791a month

    Down payment
    $4,195
    Cash to close
    $6,712
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $40

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $666a month

    Down payment
    $16,780
    Cash to close
    $19,297
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $743a month

    Down payment
    $12,585
    Cash to close
    $15,102
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Rock Falls and for Whiteside County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rock Falls

2.52%of the home’s value each year

$2,112 a year for the typical owner in Rock Falls.

  • Rock Falls 2.52%
  • Whiteside 2.04%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Whiteside County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Whiteside County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.5%
549
Of those, with NFIP insurance
24%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.5% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 24% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Rock Falls

Typical rent in Rock Falls is $754 a month: 12% below the county. In Rock Falls, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Whiteside County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($945 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.17 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Whiteside County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $696 $13.38 $27,840
1 bedroom $755 $14.52 $30,200
2 bedrooms $945 $18.17 $37,800
3 bedrooms $1,237 $23.79 $49,480
4 bedrooms $1,242 $23.88 $49,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Rock Falls

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rock Falls is in ZIP code 61071.

For 2 bedrooms it is $960: $15 more than the fair market rent for Whiteside County ($945).

  • 61071 $960$1,260

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Rock Falls when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Rock Falls

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Rock Falls. These are the largest.

  • Civic Plaza 1101 5th Ave, Rock Falls 61071 140 low-income homes · Run by Whiteside County Housing Authority · Average payment: $366 a month · Average wait: 4 months (815) 625-0581
  • Coloma Homes 403 W 18th St, Rock Falls 61071 125 low-income homes · Run by Whiteside County Housing Authority · Average payment: $386 a month · Average wait: 4 months (815) 625-0581
  • Rock Falls Elderly Living Center 2202 12th Ave, Rock Falls 61071 72 low-income homes · 1 bd: 72 · In service since 1998 · For older adults
  • Civic Plaza II 1113 5th Ave, Rock Falls 61071 63 low-income homes · For older adults (312) 855-9444
  • Crowne Hill Estates 1101 W 24th St, Rock Falls 61071 42 low-income homes · 1 bd: 13 · 2 bd: 17 · 3 bd: 6 · 4 bd: 6 · In service since 2005 · For families

See all 16 buildings in Whiteside County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rock Falls

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Whiteside County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Rock Falls

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rock Falls or Whiteside County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Rock Falls the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Rock Falls

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Rock Falls, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Region 1 Planning Council

    127 N Wyman St, Rockford · 46 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (815) 319-4462

  • Economic Growth Corporation

    371 3rd St W, Milan · 50 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (309) 788-6311

  • The Neighbor Project

    32 S Broadway, Aurora · 71 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (630) 906-9400

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Rock Falls

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Rock Falls

HUD’s record names them for Rock Falls or Whiteside County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Whiteside County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (815) 625-0581

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Whiteside County

These cities are also in Whiteside County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Whiteside County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Rock Falls, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Whiteside County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Rock Falls.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Rock Falls

Short answers with the numbers for Rock Falls and all of Whiteside County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Rock Falls?

The typical home value in Rock Falls is $83,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Whiteside County it is $127,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Rock Falls?

Typical rent in Rock Falls is $754 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Whiteside County is $945.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rock Falls?

Rock Falls uses the FHA limit for all of Whiteside County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Rock Falls?

The typical homeowner in Rock Falls pays $2,112 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.52% of the home’s value; in Whiteside County, the rate is 2.04%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Rock Falls?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Whiteside County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).