Rockford, Illinois has an overall cost of living index of 90.2, which is 9.8 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $985 per month, while the typical home is valued around $129,000. Households earn a median of $54,752 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 23. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$54,752
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$985
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$129,000
Median Home Value
Census ACS
90.2
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$810
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$895
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,175
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,555
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
90.2
Goods
93.1
Rents / Housing
64.9
Services
85.5
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $108,300 |
| Registered Nurse | $84,240 |
| Elementary Teacher | $66,900 |
| Electrician | $80,040 |
| Accountant | $73,890 |
| Plumber | $83,840 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $321,030 |
| Civil Engineer | $92,700 |
| Operations Manager | $117,000 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,350 |
| Health Services Manager | $129,200 |
| Truck Driver | $61,470 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
147,521
Latest estimate
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Census ACS
23.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
11
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$973
Per month
Avg Home Value
$131,455
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 61020 | — | $1,071 | $189,600 |
| ZIP 61088 | — | $1,115 | $183,800 |
| ZIP 61101 | — | $922 | $83,800 |
| ZIP 61102 | — | $845 | $81,100 |
| ZIP 61103 | — | $916 | $103,900 |
| ZIP 61104 | — | $788 | $77,500 |
| ZIP 61107 | — | $980 | $156,100 |
| ZIP 61108 | — | $961 | $123,000 |
| ZIP 61109 | — | $901 | $125,800 |
| ZIP 61111 | — | $999 | $137,700 |
Showing top 10 of 11 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
21°F
July Avg
74°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.1
poor
Hospitals
3
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
92.8%
Rockford has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 90.2. The US national average is 100, so Rockford is 9.8 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Rockford is $985 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Rockford is $54,752 per year.
The median home value in Rockford is $129,000 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Rockford has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 23.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Illinois is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
