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Rock Falls, IL
City in Whiteside County, Illinois.
Population
8,587
Land area
4sq mi
People per sq mi
2,156
ZIP codes
0
Rock Falls and its ZIP codes
Rock Falls at a glance
- Rock Falls is about 9.4 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- It is the 252nd most populous of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.
- Households here earn a median of $49,600 a year, 41% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $83,900 (68% below Illinois) and median rent is $754 a month.
Local data for Rock Falls, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rock Falls, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,600
Poverty rate
25.6%
Median home value
$83,900
Median rent
$754/mo
Homeownership
67.4%
Bachelor's or higher
13.4%
Median age
37.7
Average commute
15.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,193), Mexican Americans (1,366), Irish Americans (1,123).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Whiteside County. PPP loans are for Rock Falls.
Unemployment rate
3.8%
Aug 2026, -1.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,349
20,285 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,536
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$368M
FY 2026, $6,611 per person
How people get to work
Rock Falls, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.1%
- Carpooled9.8%
- Public transit1.1%
- Walked1.9%
- Bicycle2.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home6.8%
Average one-way commute: 15.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rock Falls, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
681
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
158
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 14°F
40.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rock Falls, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.6%
U.S. 33.3% +5.3 pts
Diabetes
14.4%
U.S. 12.1% +2.3 pts
Smoking
17.2%
U.S. 12.8% +4.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.1%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities near Rock Falls
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| SterlingCity | 2.1 mi | 5.9 |
| GaltCensus-designated place | 3.9 mi | 0.3 |
| ComoCensus-designated place | 4 mi | 1.1 |
| NelsonVillage | 4.7 mi | 0.4 |
| HarmonVillage | 7.8 mi | 0.2 |
| ColetaVillage | 11 mi | 0.4 |
| TampicoVillage | 11 mi | 0.4 |
| Deer GroveVillage | 11 mi | 0.4 |
| DixonCity | 12 mi | 9.5 |
| LyndonVillage | 13 mi | 0.8 |
| MilledgevilleVillage | 14 mi | 0.7 |
| ProphetstownCity | 14 mi | 1.3 |
| MorrisonCity | 14 mi | 2.5 |
| WalnutVillage | 16 mi | 0.8 |
| PoloCity | 16 mi | 1.5 |
| NachusaCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Rock Falls, IL in?
- Rock Falls is in Whiteside County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Rock Falls, IL?
- About 8,587 people live in Rock Falls, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Rock Falls?
- Nearby places include Sterling (2.1 mi), Galt (3.9 mi), Como (4 mi), Nelson (4.7 mi), Harmon (7.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023