Rockford 61 Average
Rockford Livability #874 ranked city in Illinois#16,591 ranked city in the USARanks better than 43% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Rockford

PROS
  • 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.

CONS
  • 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Rockford Area
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What's it like Living in Rockford?

Rockford, Illinois is a medium-sized city with a population of 147,441 residents. 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.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Rockford, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Rockford and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, commute, health & safety, housing and other important metrics.

Using data and statistics Rockford has received a livability score of 60 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 41st percentile when compared to all other cities. This score ranks well below the national average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Rockford has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). The bad news for Rockford, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (D-).

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Rockford excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Rockford is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Rockford come in at $95,200, which is 45.5% 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 2.1, which is 30% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rockford

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Rockford?

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Compare Rockford, IL Livability

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      Rockford transportation information

      Statistic Rockford Illinois National
      Average one way commute22min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.3%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.9%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.8%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home4.5%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Rockford, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).