Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Rockford
Illinois
8
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $51,021 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($114,100 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $446/mo less ($906 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hoover
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $51,021/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Median Income
$51,021
$101,765 vs $50,744/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
93% lower
78.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$252k less
$114,100 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 15 and Rockford wins 8. 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 Hoover to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($101,765 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Rockford, IL are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.