Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,500 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Rockford
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 29°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.7%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rockford
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $709k less ($114,100 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $885/mo less ($906 vs $1,791)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 10 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 Los Angeles by $25,500/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 7.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$25,500
$76,244 vs $50,744/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
33% lower
728.5 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Los Angeles
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$709k less
$114,100 vs $822,600
Rockford
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($76,244 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Rockford, IL are about 1,683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.