Pacific Bearing Company Tower, 2008
Roscoe’s story
189 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,070 in 1970, 10,983 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 4 maps from 1918 on.
- 1837Roscoe is settled
RoscoeIL
Population
11,034
2025 Census estimate · +0.2% since 2020
Typical home
$316K
+8.2% in a year
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
36.4
years
Jobs based here
2,647
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#314 of 767 in IL
Is Roscoe a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Roscoe grades B+ overall, 314th of 767 graded towns in Illinois. Its public schools beat 90% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation. The median household earns $93K and residents are healthier than 76% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The trade-off is money: homes are expensive, about $316K for a typical one and 4.6 times the Rockford metro’s $68K median household income. 28% of residents are under 18 in Roscoe, against 22% in Illinois’ towns and 22% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Stone Bridge Forest Preserve, at 121 acres. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns.
What makes Roscoe stand out
Where Roscoe beats most towns.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Roscoe for work
Where Roscoe’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,647jobs based in Roscoe
4%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Roscoe grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Roscoe is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →HealthBeloit Health System 8.4 miles awayA−Open →SafetyB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.1 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 40% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB−Open →History2 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life3.9 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 market15 days on market–Open →Who lives here32% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Roscoe: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Roscoe, and how to reach them.
PowerCommonwealth Edison17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Park PwdNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Roscoe’s trash rules yet
SchoolsHononegah Community High School District 207Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District 1312 districts serve Roscoe; 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 hereWinnebago County ClerkWinnebago County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2024
ZIP code6107361073 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 Roscoe.
Roscoe reports less crime than Rockton or any other graded neighbor, has home values climbing faster than Illinois’s and has added a third more jobs in ten years.
HealthA−
For health, Roscoe earns an A−
20% of Roscoe adults binge drink. Roscoe beats the Illinois average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 19% of Roscoe adults get no exercise outside work.
76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Roscoe | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 23% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.6% | 11% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
11 better20 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Roscoe | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.6% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 15.9% |
| More adults with depression | 23.4% | 19.8% |
Beloit Health System
8.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
64th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Roscoe’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 2,020 in 2013 to 2,647.
Most working residents leave Roscoe for work: only 4% work in town. Since 2013, Roscoe has added 627 jobs, to 2,647 in 2023. 5.5% of residents live below the poverty line in Roscoe.
4%work in town
| Roscoe | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 16% | 11% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.2% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Roscoe4%
Rockford29%
Loves Park7%
Beloit5%
Machesney Park5%
12 mi
median commute distance
2,647
jobs based in Roscoe
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 29% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB+
Roscoe reports less crime per resident than 73% of U.S. towns
Its B+ tops all 3 graded towns on its borders; Rockton (B+) comes closest. Reported crimes fell from 96 to 58 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
73%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Roscoe0.6
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Roscoe4.6
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
73rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
64th
percentile among IL towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
51
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Roscoe
Roscoe has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 13° and about 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–32°
Spring37–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall41–61°
Oct 12
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
#450for trails in IL
| Roscoe | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
4.2%
conserved · 274 of 6,573 acres
1.9 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Porter Park | 0.3 mi | 32 |
| 2. Stone Bridge Forest Preserve | 0.1 mi | 121 |
| 3. Riverside Park | — | 74 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
More children than Illinois overall
Roscoe’s median age is 36.4 years. 33% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 38% across Illinois.
36.4median age · IL 39
| Roscoe | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 29% | 29% |
RoscoeIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school27%
Some college24%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.7 points). Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Roscoe | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.9% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.5% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.9% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.2% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.6% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.7% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.5% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Roscoe, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 39 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Roscoe.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
39
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C−
For cost of living, Roscoe earns a C−
Home values rose 48% in five years, to about $316K, against 30% across Illinois.
Typical home values rose 8.2% in the year to September 2026. The median rent in Roscoe is $1,437 a month.
$316KZillow home value
Typical home value
Roscoe$316K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
15
days on market
101.6%
sale-to-list price
+8.2%
value change, 1 year
19
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 46 attractions →Illinois Railway Museum and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Roscoe. Close and well known come first.
28 mi MuseumIllinois Railway Museum
12 mi Stadium & arenaBMO Center
36 mi TheatreAlpine Valley Music Theatre
10 mi GardenAnderson Japanese Gardens
37 mi TheatreEgyptian Theatre, DeKalb
29 mi TheatreWoodstock Opera HouseSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Illinois Railway Museum: The original uploader was Slambo at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 · BMO Center: SimLibrarian, CC0 · Alpine Valley Music Theatre: chad davis, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Anderson Japanese Gardens: M. Readey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb: Andy McMurray, CC BY 2.5 · Woodstock Opera House: HrAtsuo, CC0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Roscoe
20pages on Roscoe
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 90% of IL districtsSafetyB+0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than IL on 11 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$316K typical home · up 8.2% in a yearWork & commuteA−$93K median household income · 2,647 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 40% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Roscoe
Beloit CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Beloit, WI5.5 mi$60,886 tuitionSaint Anthony College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rockford8 mi$27,811 tuitionRock Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rockford8.3 mi$4,334 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Roscoe residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
About Roscoe
Village in Illinois, United States
Roscoe is a village in Winnebago County, Illinois, along the Rock River. It is in a suburban area of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the village population was 10,983. Native American tribes originally inhabited the region. Stephen Mack, Jr. was the first white settler in the Roscoe area. He was married to Hononegah, a respected Native American woman from one of the surrounding tribes. His original outpost (c. 1830s) eventually became Macktown. William Talcott arrived to the area later and, after a disagreement with Mack, settled on the other side of the nearby river within the present village of Roscoe. Citizens who lived in Macktown would frequ…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 10 sq mi
- Elevation
- 738 ft
- ZIP code
- 61073
Roscoe’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Roscoe.
South BeloitRocktonMachesney ParkRoscoe TownshipHarlem TownshipRockton TownshipRoscoe
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roscoe | #314 | B+ | C− | B+ | A | A− |
| South Beloit | #428 | B | B | B− | A− | B− |
| Rockton | #152 | A | B− | B+ | A | B+ |
| Machesney Park | #737 | D | C+ | C+ | D | C+ |
| Roscoe Township | #315 | B+ | C− | — | A | B+ |
| Harlem Township | #712 | D | C+ | — | D | B− |
| Rockton Township | #320 | B+ | B− | — | A | B+ |
Roscoe Township, Harlem Township and Rockton Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Roscoe with a neighbor →
Questions about Roscoe
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Roscoe, IL a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Roscoe grades B+ overall, better than 71% of U.S. towns and #314 of 767 in Illinois. It grades A− for health, B+ for safety and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Roscoe, IL expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
What is Roscoe, IL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Frank G. Abell and Julie Harshbarger.