Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($114,100 vs $205,200)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($906 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Tyler
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tyler by $12,312/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
64% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $12,312 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Rockford
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$91k less
$114,100 vs $205,200
Tyler
Median Income
$12,312
$63,056 vs $50,744/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
64% lower
391.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Tyler
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 14 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 9 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $205,200 median home), income ($50,744 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Tyler, TX are about 767 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.