Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
31% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($114,100 vs $184,200)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($906 vs $1,043)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Knoxville
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 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Violent Crime
31% lower
740.3 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Knoxville
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Income
$2,435
$50,744 vs $48,309/yr
Rockford
Median Home Value
$70k less
$114,100 vs $184,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $50,744 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 12 and Rockford wins 10. 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 Knoxville to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($48,309 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Rockford, IL are about 514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.