Rockton's growth as a vibrant exurban community
Rockton, cradled by the Rock River Valley and surrounded by several river branches, was first established in 1835. Its population nearly doubled when residents of Macktown, a village across the river, fled into Rockton after a bridge collapse in 1851. Rockton's growth has been steady, and today it is an exurb for Rockford, 14 miles south. "Rockford has a ton of these small communities sitting outside of it, but they've only gotten more popular as people commute to Chicago and Madison," says Katie Oehlburg, a local Realtor with Realty One Group Strategies, who has over a decade of experience. "They're really kind of hopping and getting more popular, because not everyone wants to be right in the city."
Classic homes and plenty of new construction
There's a good amount of architectural diversity in Rockton, though the village is mainly filled with single-family homes. More modest styles include classic midcentury ranch and split-level homes, often found near the heart of downtown. As Rockton has become more popular as a commuter town and exurb, new subdivisions have emerged in the 21st century, filled with New Traditional and large, contemporary homes. The median sales price in Rockton is about $290,000, higher than Rockford's median of $150,000. Rockton's CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Highly rated schools in the Rockton area
Much of the community is zoned to Rockton School District 140, but certain portions fall under the Kinnikinnick School District 131. The zoning only extends to eighth grade, as all of Rockton belongs to the Hononegah Community High School District 207. Most kids in the area will start at Rockton Grade School, which gets a B-plus from Niche, before moving on to A-minus-rated Whitman Post Elementary and Stephan Mach Middle. Hononegah High School, which receives an A, offers 42 clubs and athletics and has a graduation rate of nearly 93%.
A wide range of recreation around the community, from golf to kayaking
The city maintains several recreational spaces around the community, from the basketball courts and walking trails at Settler's Park down by the river to the playground and community pool at Village Green Park. On the west side, the Macktown Forest Preserve encompasses an original settler's site, and its historic buildings are carefully preserved. It's become a popular area for walking among the old stone structures, and its location at the banks of the Pecatonica and Rock rivers makes it a go-to for anglers and kayakers. The preserve is connected to the Macktown Golf Course, which is open to the public and offers a challenging 18-hole course.
Downtown Rockton's locally focused, historic vibe
Along Main Street are several historic brick buildings renovated to house local businesses. Small independent shops, bakeries, cafés and long-running restaurants form Rockton's downtown scene. Fibs is a go-to for burgers and comfort food, its warm interior set up for a country diner vibe, while Dairyhaus churns out homemade ice cream and freshly pressed waffle cones. Just east of Rockton in the neighboring community of Roscoe are large shopping plazas with stops such as Walmart and Aldi.
Live tunes and fresh produce at the Rockton River Market
Every Wednesday from May to August, the Rockton River Market takes place in the heart of downtown. Artisan vendors, local produce stands and beer gardens fill the market, which features live music.
Major highways around the area make for easy commuting
Routes 2 and 75 are two major highways that pass through Rockton. Route 2 has connections to Interstate 90 just north of the community, and many will take I-90 to drive the 94 miles directly into Chicago. "A lot of people settle in these smaller areas to commute to Chicago and Madison, or if you're that far out, big employers like Northern Illinois University," Oehlburg says. The closest general hospitals are Jon Bea Hospital in Riverside and UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, roughly 15 miles away.
