Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Rockford
Illinois
8
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 29°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($114,100 vs $162,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
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 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Median Income
$779
$51,523 vs $50,744/yr
Roanoke
Violent Crime
43% lower
620.4 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Roanoke
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Roanoke
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$48k less
$114,100 vs $162,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 15 and Rockford wins 8. 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 Roanoke to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $114,100 median home), income ($51,523 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Rockford, IL are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.