Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Rockford
Illinois
9
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,704 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($114,100 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($906 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $39,704/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$39,704
$90,448 vs $50,744/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
66% lower
364.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$167k less
$114,100 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and Rockford wins 9. 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 Midland to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($90,448 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Rockford, IL are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.