Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (7.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 29°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,817 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($114,100 vs $168,400)
Rent averages $132/mo less ($906 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°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 7.3%)
Median income trails Columbus by $3,817/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 90.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Income
$3,817
$54,561 vs $50,744/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
44% lower
603.8 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
7.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Columbus
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Median Home Value
$54k less
$114,100 vs $168,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.1 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 16 and Rockford wins 7. 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 Columbus to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($54,561 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Rockford, IL are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.