Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Indianapolis leads 13 of 22 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
9
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
19% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $8,366 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 29°F
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($114,100 vs $184,600)
Rent averages $140/mo less ($906 vs $1,046)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Indianapolis by $8,366/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Income
$8,366
$59,110 vs $50,744/yr
Indianapolis
Violent Crime
19% lower
877.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Indianapolis
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$71k less
$114,100 vs $184,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 13 of 22 categories. Indianapolis wins 13 and Rockford wins 9. 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 Indianapolis to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($59,110 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Rockford, IL are about 229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.