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Market MapIllinoisRock Island

Rock Island County

IllinoisPopulation: 143,819
76
/100
Buy for appreciation
#39 of 1,000 counties
#31 in Illinois (102 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs Research·Independent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated June 29, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$158,998
Median Home Price
31% below national median
$999/mo
Median Rent
31% below national median
7.54%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 17% nationally
-$184
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $999/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$119,249+$24/mo6.5%+1.1%
Median
typical MLS deal
$158,998-$184/mo4.9%-6.0%
125% of median
newer / premium
$198,748-$393/mo3.9%-10.3%

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$158,998
Down Payment (20%)$31,800
Loan Amount$127,198
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$999
Monthly P&I-$833
Est. Expenses (35%)-$350
Net Cash Flow-$184/mo
4.9%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-6.0%
Cash-on-Cash Return
7.54%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.9% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
76/100
76
Cash Flow(30%)
75/100

Based on 7.54% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
86/100

Based on 5.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
96/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Above-average rent-to-price ratio (7.54%)
  • +Strong price appreciation (+5.1% YoY)
  • +Affordable relative to local incomes
  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 4.9% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population
143,819
Median Income
—
Data pending
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
—
Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +Appreciation buyers: YoY growth is meaningfully above the long-run average
  • +Patient holders willing to accept negative carry for equity gains
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
  • +Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
CurrentRock IslandIL
76$158,998$9997.54%Strong Buy
McDonoughIL
76$92,986$93712.09%Strong BuyView
ClintonIL
76$212,337Est. pending—Strong BuyView
SangamonIL
76$186,233$1,1297.28%Strong BuyView
PikeIL
75$112,450Est. pending—Strong BuyView
ShelbyIL
75$156,256Est. pending—Strong BuyView

The Bottom Line

Buy for appreciationRock Island scores strongly overall, but a leveraged buy-and-hold loses $184/mo at current rates. Best fit for appreciation-focused buyers, all-cash operators, or value-add deals below median.

Rock Island County in Illinois scores 76/100, ranking #39 of 1,000 US counties (top 5%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $184/month; the 7.54% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-184/mo
Cap Rate
4.9%
Cash-on-Cash
-6.0%

Related markets

Markets like Rock Island with stronger cash flow

  • McDonough County for cash-flow rentals
  • Sangamon County for cash-flow rentals

Cheaper alternatives to Rock Island

  • McDonough County, lower entry price
  • Pike County, lower entry price
  • Shelby County, lower entry price

Head-to-head comparisons

  • Rock Island vs McDonough for rentals
  • Rock Island vs Clinton for rentals
  • Rock Island vs Sangamon for rentals
All counties in Illinois →

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