Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $13,686 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($114,100 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($906 vs $1,255)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hampton by $13,686/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Median Income
$13,686
$64,430 vs $50,744/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
77% lower
247.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$106k less
$114,100 vs $219,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 12 and Rockford wins 11. 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 Hampton to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($64,430 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Rockford, IL are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.