Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($114,100 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $962/mo less ($906 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $81,503/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 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $81,503 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$274k less
$114,100 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$81,503
$132,247 vs $50,744/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
93% lower
78.0 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 16. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $387,900 median home), income ($50,744 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Sugar Land, TX are about 948 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.