Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 12 of 20 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
Sunrise
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($114,100 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $940/mo less ($906 vs $1,846)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunrise
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sunrise by $15,257/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.5%)
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Households earn $15,257 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$182k less
$114,100 vs $296,100
Sunrise
Median Income
$15,257
$66,001 vs $50,744/yr
Sunrise
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Sunrise
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $66,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 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 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 12 of 20 categories. Rockford wins 8 and Sunrise wins 12. 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $296,100 median home), income ($50,744 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Sunrise, FL are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.