Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Rockford
Illinois
9
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 29°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($114,100 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($906 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Median Income
$1,653
$52,397 vs $50,744/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
84% lower
170.5 vs 1080.0 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$192k less
$114,100 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 and Rockford wins 9. 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 College Station to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($52,397 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Rockford, IL are about 900 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.