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B+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B-
  2. Crime & Safety
    C+
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    A-
  5. Good for Families
    B
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B-
  8. Weather
    C+
  9. Cost of Living
    A-
  10. Health & Fitness
    B+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B+
  12. Commute
    A-
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Population
38,647

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$98,200
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$703
National
$949
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Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    35%
  • Own
    65%

Rock Island Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C+
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    324
    283
  • Murder
    10
    6
  • Rape
    8
    41
  • Robbery
    60
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    454
    500
  • Theft
    2,029
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    221
    284

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$43,052
National
$55,322
Children
18%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    7%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    15%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    35%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    31%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    12%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges
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Rock Island Reviews

52 reviews
All Categories
It wouldn't be a bad place to live if: the city and county government could manage money, hire people who are not related to those who already work there or are board members, uphold contracts to companies trying to put in new businesses, so they don't back out and put the city/county in the hole, people would act like they cared about where they live and keep it clean instead of treating it like a garbage can or destroying the homes they live in, property taxes weren't insane, when we voted something as a no they do it anyway, and much more! Rock Island tends to be a crapshoot. You have some great neighborhoods that backyard to horrible ones. They treat domestic abuse in the county like they could be bothered less with it or like we are making it up, until someone gets hurt. Then they don't understand how it went so wrong.... but they have bars! Plenty of them, oh and churches, drug deals, and Augustana College that costs WAY too much for it's location...
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I have lived in Rock Island all my life, and am very familiar with the city—several aspects of it, at any rate. While I cannot accurately describe the public school or nightlife scenes due to a lack of experience (I attended private schools throughout my life and tend not to engage in the nightlife due to my isolated nature), I can say that, in other aspects, Rock Island is a good place to life. The neighborhoods, commercial areas, and metropolitan areas are, for the most part, quite well-kept, and there is a large variety of restaurants, stores, and entertainment centers.
Rock Island is everybody's hometown town, nestled between the Rock River and the Mississippi River. The riverfront offers Schwiebert Park for daytime splashing through the fountains and free, family friendly nighttime concerts. Rock Island also is home to Augustana College. Augie's campus is worth just taking a stroll through, even if you're not a student. It is beautiful in the fall and spring. People are friendly and helpful. The District offers many choices for bars and restaurants.