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City · 36,151 residents · Rock Island County, Illinois

Rock Island , Illinois

In Rock Island, a typical home is worth $125,900 and typical rent is $842 a month. Compared with all of Rock Island County, the typical home value is 16% lower and typical household income is 12% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $125,900

    16% below the county

    52% below Illinois

    • Rock Island
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $842a month

    5% below the county

    34% below Illinois

    • Rock Island
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $59,041a year

    12% below the county

    29% below Illinois

    • Rock Island
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    65%

    5 points below the county

    2 points below Illinois

    • Rock Island
    • County
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$124,624
0.7% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$932 a month
5.1% more than 12 months ago

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

Rock Island is in Rock Island 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 Rock Island County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rock Island apart

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

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Rock Island fell 0.7%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

  2. The typical home in Rock Island is worth $125,900, 16% less than in Rock Island County as a whole ($150,400).

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

The homes here

Housing in Rock Island

What homes there are in Rock Island, 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

In Rock Island, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Rock Island County.

Year built

In Rock Island, half of the homes were built before 1954; in Rock Island County, before 1962.

In Rock Island, 17% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 50% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 56% in Rock Island County.

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

The FHA limit for Rock Island County is high ($541,287): at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Rock Island are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Rock Island County is $1,056; about 74% of rents in Rock Island are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,270 a month

Rock Island County: $1,360 a month

Without a mortgage

$584 a month

Rock Island County: $614 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Rock Island County: 58%

In Rock Island, 58% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,270 a month, against $1,360 in Rock Island County. Without one it drops to $584.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Rock Island rose 20%; in Rock Island County, it rose 26%.

The typical rent in Rock Island rose 16% over the same time; in Rock Island County, it rose 19%.

While home values in Rock Island changed +20% and rent +16%, the typical household income rose 21%.

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 IslandRock Island CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.1%6.4%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.9%1.7%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.162.232.462.53
Drive alone 76%77%66%69%
Carpool 8%9%8%9%
Public transit 2%1%6%3%
Walk or bike 3%3%3%3%
Work from home 10%9%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Rock Island, the rental vacancy rate is 7.1%, about the same as in Rock Island County.

In Rock Island, 1.9% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Rock Island County.

A household in Rock Island has 2.16 people on average, about the same as in Rock Island County (2.23).

The car rules in Rock Island: 76% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

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 Island?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Rock Island, worth $125,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 24% of the typical household income in Rock Island, which is $59,041 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rock Island. 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 $4,407 (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

$1,194

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$123,619
Total interest
$177,859
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,126 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,378 a month

    Your payment · 24%

  • Tight

    $1,378 to $1,771 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,771 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Rock Island ($59,041 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,194
Principal & interest$837
Property tax$249
Home insurance$53
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$56

You need at least $4,407 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 Island and Rock Island County

Rock Island is in Rock Island 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 Island's own numbers

Typical home value
$125,900
Typical monthly rent
$842
Typical yearly household income
$59,041
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
2.37%

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

Numbers for all of Rock Island County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,056
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.9%

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 Rock Island County.

Everything about Rock Island County

Buying

Buying a home in Rock Island

A typical home in Rock Island is worth $125,900: 16% below the county and 52% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Rock Island ($59,041 a year), a typical home costs 2.1 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 Island 2.1 years
  • County 2.2 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Rock Island County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Rock Island County rose 53% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.2% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +40% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +53% +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 Island next to Rock Island 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 Island $125,900
  • County $150,400
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rock Island $842
  • County $889
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rock Island $59,041
  • County $67,159
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rock Island next to Rock Island County and Illinois
Measure Rock Island Rock Island County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $125,900 $150,400 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $842 $889 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $59,041 $67,159 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 65% 70% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,979 $3,425 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.37% 2.28% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 48% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Rock Island 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 Island

For a typical $125,900 home in Rock Island, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rock Island's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,194a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,407
    Cash to close
    $8,184
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $56

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,171a month

    Down payment
    $6,295
    Cash to close
    $10,072
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $60

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $983a month

    Down payment
    $25,180
    Cash to close
    $28,957
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,100a month

    Down payment
    $18,885
    Cash to close
    $22,662
    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 Island and for Rock Island County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rock Island

2.37%of the home’s value each year

$2,979 a year for the typical owner in Rock Island.

  • Rock Island 2.37%
  • County 2.28%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Rock Island County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.9%
2,585
Of those, with NFIP insurance
24%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.9% 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 Island

Typical rent in Rock Island is $842 a month: 5% below the county. In Rock Island, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Rock Island County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,056 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.31 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Rock Island 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 $787 $15.13 $31,480
1 bedroom $852 $16.38 $34,080
2 bedrooms $1,056 $20.31 $42,240
3 bedrooms $1,396 $26.85 $55,840
4 bedrooms $1,697 $32.63 $67,880

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 Island

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rock Island is in ZIP code 61201.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $16 less than the fair market rent for Rock Island County ($1,056).

  • 61201 $1,040$1,370

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 Island 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 Island

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Rock Island. These are the largest.

  • Century Woods Apartments 1400 5th St, Rock Island 61201 230 low-income homes · For families (309) 786-2625
  • Spencer Towers 111 20th St, Rock Island 61201 199 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Rock Island · Average payment: $270 a month · Average wait: 12 months (309) 788-0825
  • Heather Ridge Apartments 9500ba1 14 ST W, Rock Island 61201 169 low-income homes · For families (309) 787-1654
  • Maple Ridge Apts 3700 5th St, Rock Island 61201 162 low-income homes · 1 bd: 19 · 2 bd: 97 · 3 bd: 46 · In service since 2004 · For families (309) 786-2639
  • Coventry 1900 6th Ave, Rock Island 61201 147 low-income homes · For older adults (309) 788-0117

See all 48 buildings in Rock Island County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rock Island

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.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Rock Island County; none says it serves in Spanish.

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 Island

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rock Island or Rock Island County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Rock Island 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 Island

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

  • Economic Growth Corporation

    371 3rd St W, Milan · 2 miles away

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

  • Metec

    2605 W Krause Ave, Peoria · 74 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (309) 676-3832

  • Navicore Solutions- Peoria, IL

    416 Main St, Peoria · 75 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (866) 472-4557

Every agency in Rock Island County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Rock Island

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 Island

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rock Island Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (309) 788-0825
  • Grtr Metro. Area Hsng Auth of Rock Island County Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (309) 755-4527

One other authority has an office in Rock Island County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Rock Island County

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

Everything about Rock Island County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Rock Island 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 Island.

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

Questions

Housing questions about Rock Island

Short answers with the numbers for Rock Island and all of Rock Island 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 Island?

The typical home value in Rock Island is $125,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Rock Island County it is $150,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Rock Island?

Typical rent in Rock Island is $842 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Rock Island County is $1,056.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rock Island?

Rock Island uses the FHA limit for all of Rock Island 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 Island?

The typical homeowner in Rock Island pays $2,979 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.37% of the home’s value; in Rock Island County, the rate is 2.28%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Rock Island County. 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).