Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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
Vacaville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $446k less ($114,100 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1235/mo less ($906 vs $2,141)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $56,020/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 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,020 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rockford
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$446k less
$114,100 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$56,020
$106,764 vs $50,744/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
73% lower
293.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 9 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $560,400 median home), income ($50,744 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Vacaville, CA are about 1,743 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.