Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Rockford
Illinois
13
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $27,062 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($114,100 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($906 vs $1,611)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Everett by $27,062/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Median Income
$27,062
$77,806 vs $50,744/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
75% lower
265.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Everett
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$357k less
$114,100 vs $471,200
Rockford
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories. Everett wins 10 and Rockford wins 13. 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 Everett to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($77,806 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Rockford, IL are about 1,649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.