Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
7
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $24,632 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($114,100 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($906 vs $1,627)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $24,632/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$24,632
$75,376 vs $50,744/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$304k less
$114,100 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 13 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 Fort Lauderdale to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($75,376 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Rockford, IL are about 1,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.