Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Rockford
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $766k less ($114,100 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($906 vs $1,945)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $65,324/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $65,324 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.2%)
28% less violent crime than Rockford
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 29°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rockford
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$766k less
$114,100 vs $879,900
Rockford
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$65,324
$116,068 vs $50,744/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
28% lower
775.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Rockford wins 11 and Seattle 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 Rockford to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $879,900 median home), income ($50,744 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Seattle, WA are about 1,656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.