Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Kansas City leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.0%)
3% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $5,376 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $20k less ($114,100 vs $133,800)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($906 vs $1,044)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
More college-educated — 23.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Kansas City
Cons
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 6.0%)
Median income trails Kansas City by $5,376/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$5,376
$56,120 vs $50,744/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
3% lower
1047.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Kansas City
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$20k less
$114,100 vs $133,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($56,120 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Rockford, IL are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.