Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $13,282 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rockford
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($114,100 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($906 vs $1,385)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $13,282/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$13,282
$64,026 vs $50,744/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
68% lower
350.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$415k less
$114,100 vs $528,600
Rockford
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bellingham wins 11 and Rockford wins 11. 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 Bellingham to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($64,026 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Rockford, IL are about 1,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.