Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Rockford
Illinois
12
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.
Lowell, MA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $22,264 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($114,100 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($906 vs $1,466)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $22,264/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 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$22,264
$73,008 vs $50,744/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
51% lower
532.5 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Lowell
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$249k less
$114,100 vs $362,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell 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 Lowell to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($73,008 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Rockford, IL are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.