Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Omaha leads 16 of 22 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
6
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.
Omaha, NE
Pros
66% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $19,458 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($114,100 vs $210,300)
Rent averages $193/mo less ($906 vs $1,099)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Omaha
Cons
Median income trails Omaha by $19,458/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Median Income
$19,458
$70,202 vs $50,744/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
66% lower
369.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$96k less
$114,100 vs $210,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Omaha leads 16 of 22 categories. Omaha wins 16 and Rockford wins 6. 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 Omaha to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $114,100 median home), income ($70,202 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Rockford, IL are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.