Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Rockford
Illinois
7
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $46,563 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($114,100 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $805/mo less ($906 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 107°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $46,563/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$46,563
$97,307 vs $50,744/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
83% lower
182.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$282k less
$114,100 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories. Goodyear wins 16 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 Goodyear to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $114,100 median home), income ($97,307 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Rockford, IL are about 1,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.