Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($114,100 vs $578,900)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($906 vs $1,400)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Gate by $16,444/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.9%)
South Gate, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $16,444 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 29°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rockford
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$465k less
$114,100 vs $578,900
South Gate
Median Income
$16,444
$67,188 vs $50,744/yr
South Gate
Violent Crime
51% lower
525.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
South Gate
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 14 and South Gate 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 Rockford to South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $578,900 median home), income ($50,744 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and South Gate, CA are about 1,675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.