Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rock Island, Washington
A $256,000 home here costs
$2,016per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $86,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,396. The real number is $620 higher every month, 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Douglas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Rock Island from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,142 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Douglas County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Rock Island against Douglas County and Washington
| Measure | Rock Island | Douglas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,500 | $402,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,929 | $3,168 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.755% | 0.786% |
| Median gross rent | $1,094 | $1,234 |
| Population | 1,142 | 43,733 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rock Island sits in Douglas County, which averages a high of 89.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.5°F in its coldest, with 7.58" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 843 cooling and 5,753 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Douglas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Douglas County
Full Douglas County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rock Island averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Rock Island every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rock Island I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rock Island?
A $256,000 home in Rock Island, Washington costs approximately $2,016 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,396 principal and interest, $161 property tax, $38 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $213 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rock Island?
Rock Island has an effective property tax rate of 0.755%, based on a median home value of $255,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,929. That is lower than the Douglas County average of 0.786%.
What is the average home price in Rock Island?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rock Island, Washington is $255,500, against $402,900 across Douglas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rock Island?
Median gross rent in Rock Island is $1,094 a month, against $2,016 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Rock Island?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rock Island, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $86,500 a year. That covers the full $2,016 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rock Island, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.