Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
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.
Rochester, MN
Pros
86% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $33,229 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($114,100 vs $268,800)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($906 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 29°F vs 23°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $33,229/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$33,229
$83,973 vs $50,744/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
86% lower
154.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$155k less
$114,100 vs $268,800
Rockford
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 29.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 12 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 Rochester to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $114,100 median home), income ($83,973 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Rockford, IL are about 211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.