Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 22 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $97,483 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rockford
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $523k less ($114,100 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1447/mo less ($906 vs $2,353)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $97,483/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$97,483
$148,227 vs $50,744/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
87% lower
138.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$523k less
$114,100 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 22 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 15 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 Highlands Ranch to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($148,227 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Rockford, IL are about 850 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.