Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($114,100 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $566/mo less ($906 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $21,278/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 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
56% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $21,278 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$268k less
$114,100 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$21,278
$72,022 vs $50,744/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
56% lower
470.3 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 9 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $382,100 median home), income ($50,744 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Tempe, AZ are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.