Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 29°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rockford by $2,946/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($114,100 vs $242,300)
Rent averages $139/mo less ($906 vs $1,045)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Households earn $2,946 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
62% lower
406.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Income
$2,946
$50,744 vs $47,798/yr
Rockford
Median Home Value
$128k less
$114,100 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $50,744 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County 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 Athens-Clarke County to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $114,100 median home), income ($47,798 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Rockford, IL are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.