Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $36,222 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($114,100 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $836/mo less ($906 vs $1,742)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $36,222/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 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$36,222
$86,966 vs $50,744/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
55% lower
489.7 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$364k less
$114,100 vs $478,400
Rockford
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent 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 Kent to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($86,966 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Rockford, IL are about 1,649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.