Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
11
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $35,132 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($114,100 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($906 vs $1,530)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $35,132/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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$35,132
$85,876 vs $50,744/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
33% lower
720.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$409k less
$114,100 vs $523,100
Rockford
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and Rockford wins 11. 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 Portland to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $114,100 median home), income ($85,876 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Rockford, IL are about 1,675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.