Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
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.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $43,618 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($114,100 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $819/mo less ($906 vs $1,725)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $43,618/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Median Income
$43,618
$94,362 vs $50,744/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
86% lower
146.7 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$266k less
$114,100 vs $379,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 13 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 Richardson to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($94,362 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Rockford, IL are about 765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.