Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster 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 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($114,100 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $826/mo less ($906 vs $1,732)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $39,907/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 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $39,907 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 29°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rockford
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$353k less
$114,100 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$39,907
$90,651 vs $50,744/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
72% lower
303.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 11 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $467,200 median home), income ($50,744 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Westminster, CO are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.