RANK #236 / 996 · POP 143,819 · IL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.8%
Rock Island County, Illinois, stands out for the historic Rock Island Arsenal, a significant government-owned weapons manufacturing facility located on an island in the Mississippi River. This area, part of the larger Quad Cities metropolitan area, sits approximately 140 miles west of Chicago, on the Illinois/Iowa border. The community offers a blend of urban and natural settings, with the Mississippi and Rock Rivers providing scenic views and opportunities for outdoor recreation like boating, fishing, and extensive bike trails. Commutes within the Quad Cities are generally short, often around ten minutes.
Life in Rock Island County offers a relaxed pace with a lower cost of living compared to national averages, making homeownership accessible. The area attracts families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. Major institutions like the Rock Island Arsenal and Augustana College contribute to the local economy and provide employment. Recent economic development initiatives focus on revitalizing former industrial areas through incentives for redevelopment projects, particularly along the riverfront. The region is seeing investment in sectors like advanced manufacturing and logistics, leveraging its central location and river transportation access.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Sandpiper Solar Project & Battery Energy Storage System
Sandpiper Solar Project, LLC (subsidiary of CleanGen, Inc.)
|
$256M | Planned |
|
Upper Rock Island County Landfill Renewable Natural Gas Facility
Ameresco & Republic Services, Inc.
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Rock Island Port District Master Plan Development
City of Rock Island
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Rock Island County has a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, ranking #236 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -2.4% and a median household income of $64,435, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Rock Island County is $139,800 with median rent at $846/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4609, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: -2.4%. Home values changed +6.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.39% of Rock Island County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.