Illinois Traction System
Rockdale’s story
Rockdale in pictures
Census counts: 1,101 in 1910, 2,012 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers and 6 maps from 1892 on.
Explore the history →
RockdaleIL
A town of 1,969.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,969
2025 Census estimate · −1.8% since 2020
Typical home
$217K
−2.5% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
27.0
years
Jobs based here
1,812
A job hub
Is Rockdale a good place to live?
The best of Rockdale’s subject grades are an A+ for walkability and an A for safety; the weakest is a D for health. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Rockdale, above both Illinois’ towns (8.4%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). On health, just 12 of Illinois’ 1,284 towns do worse. Rockdale's public schools trail 74% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation. On civic life, just 7 of Illinois’ 1,240 towns do worse. Rockdale has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Rockdale stand out
Where Rockdale beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
12% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,812
Residents who work915
Work
2 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better10 too close to call21 worse
| Widest gap | Rockdale | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20% | 10.3% |
Worth knowing · HealthD
Less healthy than 95% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,781 people come to Rockdale for work
Where Rockdale’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,812jobs based in Rockdale
3%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Rockdale grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Rockdale is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.6 of 20; 2.8% of households have no carA+Open →HealthLess healthy than 94% of U.S. towns; Saint Joseph Medical Center 1.7 miles awayDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 12% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SafetyAOpen →Jobs & incomeCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $217K, 2.4 years of the Chicago metro’s $91K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →HistoryB−Open →Civic life0.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 27.0; 14% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rockdale: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rockdale, and how to reach them.
PowerCommonwealth Edison17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRockdale water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rockdale’s trash rules yet
SchoolsJoliet Township High School District 204Rockdale School District 842 districts serve Rockdale; 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 hereWill County ClerkWill County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6043660436 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 Rockdale.
HealthD
Rockdale stands out in Illinois and nationally: a larger share of its adults get no exercise outside work
36% of Rockdale adults get no exercise outside work, above both the Illinois town median (23%) and the median of U.S. towns (25%). 43% of Rockdale adults sleep under 7 hours. Rockdale beats the Illinois average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 21.
6%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Rockdale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 23% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 18% | 19% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 13% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 37% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better10 too close to call21 worse
| What stands out | Rockdale | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.2% | 7.6% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20% | 10.3% |
Saint Joseph Medical Center
1.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
A job hub: Rockdale has 2.0 jobs for every working resident and draws in 1,781 commuters
Most working residents leave Rockdale for work: only 3% work in town. The median household income in Rockdale is $59,000. Since 2013, Rockdale has lost 107 jobs, to 1,812 in 2023.
3%work in town
| Rockdale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 5.3% | 11% | 11% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Rockdale3%
Joliet21%
Chicago9%
Bolingbrook3%
New Lenox3%
13 mi
median commute distance
1,812
jobs based in Rockdale
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyA
Rockdale reports less crime per resident than 87% of U.S. towns
Rockdale’s property crime rate is 2 per 1,000 residents.
87%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Rockdale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Rockdale1
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Rockdale2
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
87th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
4
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Very low risk in Rockdale, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 88% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Rockdale since 1995.
12risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 1995
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade B−
A smaller share of households in Rockdale own their home than in the typical Illinois or U.S. town
46% of households own their home in Rockdale. The typical Rockdale home is worth about $217,000, down 2.5% in a year, 27% below the Illinois typical home.
$217KZillow home value
| Rockdale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 46% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,256 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Rockdale$217K
Illinois$296K
−2.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Rockdale
Rockdale has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 16° and about 17 inches of snow falls in a winter.
17″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–35°
Spring39–60°
Summer62–83°
Fall43–63°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 165 attractions →Soldier Field and 140 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rockdale. Close and well known come first.
Big draw36 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
Big draw39 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw34 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw34 mi Stadium & arenaRate Field
Big draw35 mi Stadium & arenaUnited Center
Big draw37 mi MuseumArt Institute of Chicago1.5M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Soldier Field: Photo by Joon Han Contact: [email protected], CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wrigley Field: Ryan Dickey, CC BY 2.0 · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · Rate Field: User Enoch Lai on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · United Center: User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Art Institute of Chicago: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rockdale
18pages on Rockdale
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 74% of IL districtsSafetyA1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than IL on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$217K typical home · down 2.5% in a yearWork & commuteC$59K median household income · 1,812 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 12% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Rockdale
University of St FrancisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Joliet2.4 mi$38,110 tuitionJoliet Junior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Joliet2.9 mi$4,530 in-state tuitionLewis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Romeoville7.3 mi$39,200 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Rockdale residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
About Rockdale
Village in Illinois, United States
Rockdale is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Rockdale had a population of 2,012.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
Rockdale’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Rockdale.
JolietRockdale
How the neighbors grade
Rockdale has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Compare Rockdale with a neighbor →
Questions about Rockdale
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rockdale, IL expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.