Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
12
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,251 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rockford
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $596k less ($114,100 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($906 vs $1,698)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $28,251/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 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$28,251
$78,995 vs $50,744/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
37% lower
676.4 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$596k less
$114,100 vs $709,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 11 and Rockford wins 12. 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 Long Beach to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($78,995 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Rockford, IL are about 1,679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.