Current real estate market data, news and analysis for the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metropolitan area — 380,452 residents across Henry, IL, Mercer, IL, Rock Island, IL and Scott, IA counties.
Data as of May 2026. Sources: Redfin Data Center, U.S. Census Bureau.
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Davenport Real Estate Market Overview
The Quad Cities metro straddles the Mississippi River at one of the few points where the river runs east to west, placing Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa bank directly across from Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline on the Illinois bank. The core cities sit in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, with Henry and Mercer counties in Illinois extending the metro through smaller farm and river towns. Bridges linking the two states carry steady commuter traffic, so the metro functions as one connected housing market despite the state line. Housing stock reflects the region’s layered history: brick and frame homes from the industrial-era boom cluster near the original downtowns and riverfronts, early twentieth-century foursquares and bungalows fill the inner rings, and postwar ranch and split-level homes give way to newer subdivisions on the outer edges of Bettendorf, Davenport, and the smaller surrounding towns.
Higher-demand pockets sit along the bluffs and wooded ridges above the river and in neighborhoods close to downtown amenities, parks, and well-regarded schools, where larger lots and architectural character carry a premium. Parts of Bettendorf and eastern Davenport draw buyers seeking newer construction and strong schools, while Rock Island’s historic districts near Augustana College carry similar standing on the Illinois side. More modest price expectations are typical in older industrial-era neighborhoods closer to the riverfront and rail corridors in central Rock Island, East Moline, and parts of Davenport and Moline, where lots are smaller and homes were built for a working population tied to the region’s factories. Outlying towns offer lower-cost, lower-density living for buyers willing to commute farther.
Manufacturing and agriculture-related industry anchor the regional economy. Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is headquartered in Moline and operates factories and offices across the metro, making it the region’s most identifiable private employer. The Rock Island Arsenal, a U.S. Army installation on an island in the Mississippi River between Rock Island and Davenport, is one of the nation’s oldest government-owned weapons arsenals and remains among the metro’s largest employers. Health care is another pillar, anchored by UnityPoint Health’s Trinity system and MercyOne Genesis, both operating hospitals and clinics on both sides of the river. Other significant employers include Hy-Vee, Kraft Heinz, Arconic, and smaller manufacturers and agribusiness firms tied to the area’s farming hinterland.
Buyers should account for the metro spanning two states with different income tax structures, property tax systems, and closing customs, so a comparison limited to one side of the river can mislead. Flood risk along the Mississippi is a genuine, recurring consideration, particularly for riverfront property in downtown Davenport, which relies on temporary, removable flood barriers rather than a permanent floodwall, unlike some other river cities. Buyers should check flood zone status, local levee or floodwall protection, and municipal flood history for any address near the river before purchasing. Development patterns vary: some Illinois-side cities have used tax increment financing to redevelop older riverfront and downtown areas, while growth on the Iowa side has pushed subdivisions outward from Bettendorf and Davenport. Because the region includes dozens of small towns alongside the five core cities, buyers should independently verify school boundaries, municipal versus county services, floodplain maps, and local zoning rather than treat a listing’s town as a complete picture of taxes, services, or commute.
Cities and Towns in the Davenport Metro Area
Notable Communities and Neighborhoods
Davenport Real Estate Market FAQ
How is the Quad Cities metro organized geographically, including the Iowa/Illinois split?
The metro is built around a bend where the Mississippi River flows east to west, so Davenport and Bettendorf sit on the Iowa side directly across the river from Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline on the Illinois side. Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, hold the five core cities, while Henry and Mercer counties in Illinois add outlying farm and river towns to the metro’s south and east. Several bridges connect the two states, and residents routinely cross the river for work, shopping, and services, so the area operates as one integrated market even though it is governed by two different state systems.
Which parts of the Quad Cities tend to be pricier, and why?
Areas along the river bluffs and wooded ridges, and neighborhoods close to downtown amenities, parks, and well-regarded schools, tend to command higher prices because of larger lots, mature landscaping, and architectural character. Parts of Bettendorf and eastern Davenport are known for newer construction and strong schools, while Rock Island’s historic districts near Augustana College carry similar standing on the Illinois side. Older industrial-era neighborhoods nearer the riverfront and rail corridors, along with more distant outlying towns, tend to be more affordable.
What should buyers verify locally before purchasing in the Quad Cities?
Because the metro spans two states and includes dozens of small incorporated towns beyond the five core cities, buyers should confirm which state and county a property sits in, since income tax structure, property tax rules, and closing customs differ between Iowa and Illinois. Buyers should also verify school district boundaries, whether services come from the municipality or the county, local zoning, and floodplain maps rather than assume a listing’s stated town reflects the full picture.
What is the flood risk along the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities?
Property near the riverfront, particularly in downtown Davenport, faces recurring flood risk from the Mississippi River. Unlike some other river cities in the region, downtown Davenport relies on temporary, removable flood barriers rather than a permanent floodwall, which means flood response depends on barrier installation ahead of high water. Buyers considering riverfront or low-lying property should check flood zone designation, local levee or floodwall protection, and the municipality’s flood history before purchasing.
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