Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $20,929 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($114,100 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $408/mo less ($906 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $20,929/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 8.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$20,929
$71,673 vs $50,744/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
50% lower
539.8 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Chicago
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$190k less
$114,100 vs $304,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 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 Chicago to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $114,100 median home), income ($71,673 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Rockford, IL are about 77 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.