Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($114,100 vs $243,300)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Rent averages $108/mo less ($906 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
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
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 8.1%)
Median income trails Yakima by $4,990/yr
Yakima, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,990 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 29°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rockford
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$129k less
$114,100 vs $243,300
Yakima
Median Income
$4,990
$55,734 vs $50,744/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
50% lower
544.3 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Yakima
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Yakima
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Rockford wins 11 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($50,744 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Yakima, WA are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.