Rents are right about where Rock Island's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $932 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Rock Island is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2023.
Rent in Rock Island changed +6.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,041) is $1,476 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,290); a 4-bedroom is $1,520.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Rock Island. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Rock Island, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 24.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Rock Island, IL has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $59,041 today, compared with $50,965 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 37,519 to 36,151 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.6% change. About 35.2% of households rent today, against 38.9% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 21.9% to 24.5%.
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Can you afford rent in Rock Island on your salary?
At $932/mo, how Rock Island rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Rock Island rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Rock Island. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Rock Island
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Rock Island is $932/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $680/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $990/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,290/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($59,041/yr), Rock Island ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Rock Island?
Is rent going up or down in Rock Island?
How does Rock Island rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rock Island?
At $932/mo, rent takes ~19% of Rock Island's median household income ($59,041/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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