Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Rockford
Illinois
8
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,379 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($114,100 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $716/mo less ($906 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $60,379/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
Pearland
Median Income
$60,379
$111,123 vs $50,744/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
91% lower
95.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$197k less
$114,100 vs $311,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Pearland wins 15 and Rockford wins 8. 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 Pearland to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $114,100 median home), income ($111,123 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Rockford, IL are about 944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.