Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Rockford
Illinois
13
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $41,548 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $463k less ($114,100 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $958/mo less ($906 vs $1,864)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $41,548/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
Renton
Median Income
$41,548
$92,292 vs $50,744/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
69% lower
339.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$463k less
$114,100 vs $576,800
Rockford
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories. Renton wins 10 and Rockford wins 13. 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 Renton to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($92,292 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Rockford, IL are about 1,649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.