Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
46% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.5%)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rockford by $6,588/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Households earn $6,588 more per year on average
Rent averages $89/mo less ($906 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Violent Crime
46% lower
582.3 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Income
$6,588
$50,744 vs $44,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $114,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $50,744 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ 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 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 12 and Rockford wins 11. 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 ($111,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($44,156 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Rockford, IL are about 584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.