Rockford, IL
Census place 1765000 · pop 147,521
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
1083 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
2.58% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
44.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
21.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2563 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$54,752 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
14.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
54.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+0.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
23.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
61/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,234/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$129,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Rockford: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Rockford, IL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Rockford scores 35/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is violent crime rate. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Rockford, IL?
- Rockford reports 1083 violent crimes per 100k and 2563 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Rockford, IL expensive to live in?
- Rockford has a median home value of $129,000 and typical rent around $1,234/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Rockford, IL?
- Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (1083/100k) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Rockford, IL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($129,000) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.