Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
10
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $23,966 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($114,100 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($906 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $23,966/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$23,966
$74,710 vs $50,744/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
43% lower
619.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$203k less
$114,100 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 13 and Rockford wins 10. 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 Durham to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($74,710 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Rockford, IL are about 696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.