Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
10
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.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
45% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Households earn $3,422 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $28k less ($114,100 vs $141,900)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($906 vs $1,026)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
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
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.2%)
Median income trails Montgomery by $3,422/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Median Income
$3,422
$54,166 vs $50,744/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
45% lower
594.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Montgomery
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$28k less
$114,100 vs $141,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and Rockford wins 10. 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 Montgomery to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $114,100 median home), income ($54,166 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Rockford, IL are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.