Chicago vs Rockford
Chicago, Illinois versus Rockford, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Rockford edges out Chicago on overall objective livability (42 vs 36 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Chicago | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $51k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $46k |
| Home Value | $305k | $114k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $906 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 2.73% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.51% | 14.07% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 9.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4 in | 38.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8 in | 37.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 184 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 102 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 72.2 | 45.5 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 72.3 |
| Violent Crime | 3190/100k | 3694/100k |
| Property Crime | 3133/100k | 2647/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.59 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | Even |
| White (%) | 32.7% | 51.7% |
| Black (%) | 28.4% | 21.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 19.1% |
| Asian (%) | 6.9% | 3.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 34 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 7.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 3 mi | 62 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 83.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.37 | 17.68 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chicago or Rockford more affordable?
- Rockford has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Chicago's $55k and Rockford's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Chicago versus $906 in Rockford.
- Is Chicago or Rockford safer?
- Chicago has the lower violent crime rate. Chicago reports 3190/100k and Rockford reports 3694/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chicago or Rockford?
- The median home value is $305k in Chicago and $114k in Rockford, so homes are more affordable in Rockford.