Morrow-Pech Optical, 1989
East Moline’s story
127 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,665 in 1910, 21,374 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1989 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
- 1899East Moline is settled
Photo: Alan Light · CC BY 2.0
Population
20,453
2025 Census estimate · −4.2% since 2020
Typical home
$152K
+6.2% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
9,233
Balanced
TownGrade
C−
#640 of 767 in IL
Is East Moline a good place to live?
East Moline gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $152K for a typical one, or 2.1 years of the Davenport metro’s $73K median household income. It grades C− overall, 640th among Illinois's 767 graded towns. The low prices come with trade-offs. Its public schools trail 85% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation, and it reports more crime per resident than 76% of U.S. towns, including 53 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. On the plus side, it is more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns. 20% of residents live below the poverty line in East Moline, where Illinois’ towns sit at 8.4% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The biggest park or preserve is Amôwa Forest Preserve, at 176 acres.
What makes East Moline stand out
Where East Moline beats most towns.
How East Moline grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far East Moline is from typical.
SchoolsC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 12.6% of households have no carA−Open →SafetyC−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →HealthGenesis Medical Center-Illini 2.1 miles awayC+Open →Jobs & income$62K median household income; 9,233 jobs based hereC+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB−Open →History3 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life2 library visits per resident; 2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market21 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.9; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to East Moline: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in East Moline, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy10.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEast Moline water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsUnited Township High School District 30East Moline School District 372 districts serve East Moline; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRock Island County ClerkRock Island County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6124461244 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in East Moline.
East Moline is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has homes that are cheap against local pay and trades workers with Moline and other neighbors.
HousingCost of living grade B+
East Moline earns a B+ for cost of living
At 2.1 years of the Davenport metro’s $73K median household income, the typical home (about $152K) costs less against local pay than in 75% of Illinois towns; that ratio is one input to its B+ for cost of living.
Typical home values rose 6.2% in the year to September 2026. The median rent in East Moline is $868 a month.
$152KZillow home value
| East Moline | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 64% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $868 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
East Moline$152K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
21
days on market
97.8%
sale-to-list price
+6.2%
value change, 1 year
18
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyC−
East Moline earns a C− for safety
Reported crimes fell from 556 to 417 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
East Moline’s property crime rate is 17.4 per 1,000 residents. East Moline reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 76% report less. East Moline’s violent crime rate is 2.5 per 1,000 residents.
24%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| East Moline | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17.4 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.5 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
East Moline2.5
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
East Moline17.4
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
24th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
16th
percentile among IL towns
53
violent crimes reported in 2025
364
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
East Moline has four seasons and pleasant summers
East Moline has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 15° and about 36 inches of snow falls in a winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–34°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–83°
Fall43–63°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 16
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in seven working residents works right in East Moline
East Moline has about as many jobs (9,233) as working residents, but only 1,064 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 19 minutes, against 27.8 across Illinois.
Most working residents leave East Moline for work: only 14% work in town. 5.2% of East Moline workers work from home. The top destinations are Moline (14%), Davenport (14%) and Rock Island (9%).
14%work in town
| East Moline | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 11% | 11% |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In East Moline14%
Moline14%
Davenport14%
Rock Island9%
Joslin7%
8 mi
median commute distance
9,233
jobs based in East Moline
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC+
Residents of East Moline are less healthy than 62% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,354 U.S. towns with household incomes like East Moline’s, it is healthier than 56%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income.
East Moline beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 19% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in East Moline.
38%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| East Moline | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | East Moline | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15% | 10.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.9% | 6.3% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 9.7% | 7.8% |
Genesis Medical Center-Illini
2.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
24th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
#510for trails in IL
| East Moline | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.8% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
2.8%
conserved · 259 of 9,290 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Bend | 0.5 mi | 52 |
| 2. Amôwa Forest Preserve | — | 176 |
| 3. Butterworth Park | 0.2 mi | 21 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
East Moline faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
155 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 10 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 155 flood insurance claims have been paid out in East Moline.
53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
155
paid flood claims since 1979
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Rock Island Arsenal and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Moline. Close and well known come first.
8 mi Ancient siteRock Island Arsenal
10 mi MuseumBlack Hawk State Historic Site
10 mi MuseumFigge Art Museum77K visitors a year6 mi Zoo & aquariumNiabi Zoo
11 mi MuseumPutnam Museum
10 mi GardenVander Veer Botanical ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Rock Island Arsenal: Robert A, Ryan, J. Ceronia, and Bruce A. Harms, Photographers, Public domain · Black Hawk State Historic Site: Bill Whittaker (talk). Original uploader was Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Figge Art Museum: Ctjf83, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Putnam Museum: Ctjf83 of English Wikipedia (log), Public domain · Vander Veer Botanical Park: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Moline
20pages on East Moline
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 85% of IL districtsSafetyC−2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than IL on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$152K typical home · up 6.2% in a yearWork & commuteC+$62K median household income · 9,233 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 53% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of East Moline
Black Hawk CollegeCommunity college · Public · Moline4.3 mi$4,920 in-state tuitionOrion Technical CollegeUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Davenport, IA7.8 mi$15,600 tuitionAugustana CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rock Island8.5 mi$51,598 tuition
About 5 of every 100 East Moline residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
Famous people from East Moline
3 notable people were born in East Moline.
About East Moline
City in Illinois, United States
East Moline is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,374 at the 2020 census. East Moline was incorporated in April 1907. It is one of the five Quad Cities at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers, along with neighboring Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1903
- Area
- 15 sq mi
- Elevation
- 577 ft
- ZIP code
- 61244
- Area code
- 309
East Moline’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with East Moline.
MolineSouth Moline TownshipMoline TownshipCampbell's IslandSilvisBarstowHamptonHampton TownshipEast Moline
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Moline | #640 | C− | B+ | C− | C− | C+ |
| Moline | #612 | C | B | D | C+ | C+ |
| South Moline Township | #524 | C+ | B | — | C | C+ |
| Moline Township | #490 | B− | B | — | C+ | C+ |
| Campbell's Island | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Silvis | #696 | D | B | D | D | C |
| Barstow | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hampton | — | — | B+ | — | C+ | C |
Hampton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. South Moline Township, Moline Township and Hampton report no FBI crime data of their own. Campbell's Island and Barstow aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare East Moline with a neighbor →
Questions about East Moline
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Moline, IL a good place to live?
East Moline grades C− overall, better than 22% of U.S. towns and #640 of 767 in Illinois. It grades C+ for health, C− for safety and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is East Moline, IL expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is East Moline, IL known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Eric Wisely and Jon Banks.