Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Providence leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ 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.
Providence, RI
Pros
74% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $10,621 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.2%)
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($114,100 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $308/mo less ($906 vs $1,214)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $10,621/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Income
$10,621
$61,365 vs $50,744/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
74% lower
276.7 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$179k less
$114,100 vs $293,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence 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 Providence to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $114,100 median home), income ($61,365 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Rockford, IL are about 904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.