Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $62,435 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rockford
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($114,100 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1077/mo less ($906 vs $1,983)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $62,435/yr
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$62,435
$113,179 vs $50,744/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
80% lower
219.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$542k less
$114,100 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Rockford wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Rockford, IL are about 672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.