Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
76% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $12,105 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 29°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($114,100 vs $224,900)
Rent averages $98/mo less ($906 vs $1,004)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norman by $12,105/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Median Income
$12,105
$62,849 vs $50,744/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
76% lower
260.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$111k less
$114,100 vs $224,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman 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 Norman to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $114,100 median home), income ($62,849 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Rockford, IL are about 658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.