Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverview, FL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Riverview leads 14 of 23 categories
Riverview
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Rockford
Illinois
9
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.
Riverview, FL
Pros
88% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $36,639 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 29°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($114,100 vs $292,700)
Rent averages $851/mo less ($906 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $36,639/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
Riverview
Median Income
$36,639
$87,383 vs $50,744/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
88% lower
131.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Riverview
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Riverview
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$179k less
$114,100 vs $292,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverview, FL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $292,700 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,757⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,383 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,467 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.6% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverview's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 14 of 23 categories. Riverview wins 14 and Rockford wins 9. 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 Riverview to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($87,383 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverview, FL and Rockford, IL are about 1,067 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.