Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Spring Valley
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($114,100 vs $375,200)
Rent averages $617/mo less ($906 vs $1,523)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Spring Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Spring Valley by $18,597/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 7.6%)
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
91% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $18,597 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $375,200
Higher rents — median is $1,523/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$261k less
$114,100 vs $375,200
Spring Valley
Median Income
$18,597
$69,341 vs $50,744/yr
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
91% lower
94.1 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Spring Valley
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $375,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,523⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $69,341 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 8 and Spring Valley wins 15. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $375,200 median home), income ($50,744 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Spring Valley, NV are about 1,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.