Best Life Index › States › Illinois › Cities › Rockford

Illinois city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Rockford?

What it costs to live in Rockford, and how it compares with other Illinois cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

45

106th best value in Illinois

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Illinois cities.

Overall livability

23

159th overall in Illinois

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Rockford is home to about 148,942 people. A typical home runs $97,500 and a household earns around $47,000, a price-to-income ratio of 2.1. Among Illinois's largest cities, it ranks 106th for value and 159th overall.

Rockford at a glance

Median home price

$97,500

17th in IL of 163

Median rent

$831/mo

Median household income

$47,000

Home price to income

2.1x

Unemployment

9.6%

148th in IL of 163

School rating

3/10

148th in IL of 163

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IL of 163

Walk score

17/100

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‹ See all top Illinois cities ranked  ยท  Illinois state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Illinois only. Updated 2026.