Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 12 of 22 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
12
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Rockford
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 29°F
Households earn $3,696 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($114,100 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $463/mo less ($906 vs $1,369)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (9.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
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
Median income trails Bridgeport by $3,696/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$3,696
$54,440 vs $50,744/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
64% lower
392.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Rockford
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$113k less
$114,100 vs $227,200
Rockford
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
9.0% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rockford leads 12 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 10 and Rockford wins 12. 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 Bridgeport to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($54,440 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Rockford, IL are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.