Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 13 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 29°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Rockford by $2,654/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Memphis
Homes cost $26k less ($114,100 vs $139,600)
Rent averages $144/mo less ($906 vs $1,050)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Households earn $2,654 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Income
$2,654
$50,744 vs $48,090/yr
Rockford
Violent Crime
57% lower
1080.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Rockford
Median Home Value
$26k less
$114,100 vs $139,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $50,744 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 284⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ 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 | — | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rockford leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Rockford wins 13. 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 Memphis to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $114,100 median home), income ($48,090 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Rockford, IL are about 496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.