2025 Compare Cities Overview:
DeKalb, IL vs Rock Island, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Rock Island older or younger than people in DeKalb?
- The Median Age in Rock Island is 10.3 years older than in DeKalb.

Are housing costs cheaper in Rock Island or DeKalb?
- Rock Island housing costs are 45.5% less expensive than DeKalb housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Rock Island or DeKalb?
- The average commute for residents of Rock Island is 3.2 minutes shorter than it is for residents of DeKalb.

Things to do in DeKalb?
DeKalb, Illinois sits within DeKalb County providing visitors great culture attractions from Egyptian Theater to Northern Illinois University Convocation Center as well as plenty of restaurants like Kishwaukee Tap.

Things to do in Rock Island?
Rock Island, Illinois lies within Rock Island County giving tourists leisure areas such as Sunderbruch Park combined with employment opportunities at Trinity Muscatine Campus along with entertainment opportunities at Rialto Square Theatre Waipahu

 DeKalb, ILRock Island, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock37,519329,725,481
 Median Income$45,591  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock35.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$206,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time21.06  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Dekalb    2 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

While I love the cheaper rents then in the closer suburbs (to Chicago), the lack of high paying jobs for anyone without high degrees (Masters or higher) is  More

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As a 37 year resident of DeKalb - an escapee of the Chicago suburbs, I am pleased to write a bit about my hometown. Originally a college town in a farming community,  More

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Reviews for Rock Island    3 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Pros: 1. Extremely low cost of living 2. Affordable place to live Cons: 1. High crime rate 2. Poor school system 3. Not much to  More

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Rock Island has a varied background and contains many cultural and historic areas. It has been improving its school system and is in a metropolitan area which contains  More

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Over 19 years ago

I just moved here for work one year ago. Moving from San Francisco here was a shock but ultimatelly good. The community is a typical midwestern small town. It is part  More

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