Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
9
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
71% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (7.1%)
Households earn $10,737 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rockford
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($114,100 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($906 vs $1,269)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
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 Eugene by $10,737/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$10,737
$61,481 vs $50,744/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
71% lower
317.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Eugene
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
7.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$292k less
$114,100 vs $406,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Eugene 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 Eugene to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $114,100 median home), income ($61,481 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Rockford, IL are about 1,709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.