Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Rockford, IL

    Is Rockford a good place to live?

    Watch Rockford

    Rockford ranks #49 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (45/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $120,900
    +6.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $954
    per month
    Household income
    $53,328
    median
    Unemployment
    8.6%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Rockford

    The median home value in Rockford is $120,900 and median rent is $954 a month, against a median household income of $53,328. Homes cost about 2.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Rockford crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Rockford, IL

    Rockford has about 147,649 residents, 8.6% unemployment and 15% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Rockford with

    Rockford vs ChicagoRockford vs AuroraRockford vs JolietRockford vs NapervilleRockford vs ElginRockford vs SpringfieldRockford vs PeoriaRockford vs Waukegan

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report