Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Rent averages $271/mo less ($906 vs $1,177)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (9.0%)
Households earn $6,300 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
5% less violent crime than Rockford
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 29°F
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rockford by $6,300/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rockford
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 9.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Income
$6,300
$50,744 vs $44,444/yr
Rockford
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
9.0% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Violent Crime
5% lower
1025.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 14 and Trenton wins 9. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($50,744 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Trenton, NJ are about 755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.