Rock Island County, IL Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Rock Island County, IL?
Rock Island County sits in IECC climate zone 5 (Cold) — a real winter that drives most of the annual energy bill here. For a currently uninsulated attic, DOE and Energy Star recommend building up to R-60. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-60 costs roughly $3,480 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2 years at an estimated $1,778/year saved.
Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Where the savings come from
Heating accounts for about $1,611/year of that and cooling about $167/year — Rock Island County needs both. Nationally, Rock Island County ranks in the 71st percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Rock Island County places 341st out of 754. Against Illinois's own average of $1,642/year, Rock Island County runs 8% above that.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's Moline Quad City Intl AP, IL US station, 2.5 miles from Rock Island County, supplies the 6,024 HDD and 1,041 CDD this estimate runs on. By total degree days, Rock Island County sits at the 73rd percentile nationally. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
The smaller top-up scenario
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $259/year saved (~8.8-year payback). Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Rock Island County
Get quotes from at least two local contractors before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth checking upfront given Rock Island County's estimated $1,778/year on the line.
Rock Island County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Rock Island County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.