Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Rockford
Illinois
14
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 29°F
Households earn $9,185 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($114,100 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($906 vs $1,605)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $9,185/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$9,185
$59,929 vs $50,744/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
61% lower
423.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$483k less
$114,100 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 9 and Rockford wins 14. 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 El Monte to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($59,929 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Rockford, IL are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.