Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield 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 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $34k less ($114,100 vs $147,700)
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 Springfield by $11,675/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
17% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $11,675 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Median Home Value
$34k less
$114,100 vs $147,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.1 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Income
$11,675
$62,419 vs $50,744/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
17% lower
901.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Springfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $147,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $913 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 8 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $147,700 median home), income ($50,744 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Springfield, IL are about 173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.