Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Irving leads 15 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
8
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $25,942 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($114,100 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($906 vs $1,423)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $25,942/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 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$25,942
$76,686 vs $50,744/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
75% lower
275.4 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$145k less
$114,100 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 15 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $114,100 median home), income ($76,686 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Rockford, IL are about 780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.