South Moline
RANK #49 / 996 NAT · #8 / 28 IL · POP 143,819
1YR FORECAST: +3.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +39%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 ranks #49 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 95/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 2.4% year-over-year). Median household income here is $64,435.
By national standards, Rock Island County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $139,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.46 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $846/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Both population (-0.6% YoY) and employment (-2.4%) are contracting in Rock Island County, though housing tells its own story with values moving +6.4% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.39% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Rock Island County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.4% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Rock Island County is now valued at $139,800. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.