Rockford, IL, known as 'The Forest City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Winnebago County, Rockford is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Chicago (90 miles) and Madison (75 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Rockford's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Rockford is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Anderson Japanese Gardens, the historic Coronado Performing Arts Center, and the scenic Rock Cut State Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Klehm Arboretum to the bustling CherryVale Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Rockford's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Rockford AirFest and the Stroll on State highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Rockford's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Rockford University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Rockford is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Rockford Art Museum and the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Rockford provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Rockford’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) and the Rockford Rivets (Northwoods League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Rockford include aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Collins Aerospace and SwedishAmerican driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and Metra trains, making commuting convenient.
Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Employment
In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.
Schools
The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.
Located in the state of Illinois, Rockford is a medium-sized city with a population of 151,169 inhabitants. In Rockford, only 48% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Rockford is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before relocating to any new city in Illinois, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, health & safety, education, you can easily compare the best places to live in Rockford and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Rockford to Illinois and the national average.
Rockford has a livability score of 61 out of 100 and is ranked #874 in Illinois and #16,591 in the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Rockford has higher than average grades for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a more negative note, Rockford does not have favorable ranks for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (D-). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Rockford market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
Assuming that Rockford meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Rockford. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Rockford are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Rockford come in at $170,955, which is 44.6% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Rockford, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 25.7% lower than the Illinois average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Rockford | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 78.3% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 11.9% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.8% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.9% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Illinois
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in Illinois
Check out the 10 safest cities in Illinois
Safest Cities In The US