Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Rockford
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,515 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($114,100 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($906 vs $1,747)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $70,515/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$70,515
$121,259 vs $50,744/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
90% lower
106.4 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$276k less
$114,100 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Rockford wins 7. 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 Allen to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($121,259 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Rockford, IL are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.