Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($114,100 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($906 vs $1,422)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 3 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 Tampa by $16,058/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $16,058 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$219k less
$114,100 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$16,058
$66,802 vs $50,744/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
59% lower
444.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 10 and Tampa wins 13. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($50,744 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Tampa, FL are about 1,055 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.