Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pompano Beach, FL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Pompano Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,155 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
111,790
Rockford
Illinois
10
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.
Pompano Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 29°F
Households earn $10,411 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,527/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($114,100 vs $293,300)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($906 vs $1,527)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pompano Beach
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pompano Beach by $10,411/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pompano Beach
Median Income
$10,411
$61,155 vs $50,744/yr
Pompano Beach
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$179k less
$114,100 vs $293,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pompano Beach, FL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,300 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,527⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,155 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.6" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,790 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pompano Beach's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Pompano Beach wins 10 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 Pompano Beach to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,300 vs $114,100 median home), income ($61,155 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pompano Beach, FL and Rockford, IL are about 1,217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.