Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Vancouver
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($114,100 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $619/mo less ($906 vs $1,525)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $22,882/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 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Rockford
Households earn $22,882 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Rockford
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$289k less
$114,100 vs $403,400
Rockford
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$22,882
$73,626 vs $50,744/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
46% lower
582.3 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 11 and Vancouver wins 12. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $403,400 median home), income ($50,744 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Vancouver, WA are about 1,672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.