Rockford IL
Illinois · Pop. 147,521
Rockford, IL: median household income of $54,752, median rent of $985/mo, 8.5% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$54,752
per year
Median Rent
$985
per month
Median Home
$129k
home value
Unemployment
8.5%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
21.3%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
22 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Rockford, IL Reality Check"
In Rockford, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $54,752 and median rent is $985/month. 51% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $129,000 — that's 2.4× the median income. Employment picture: 8.49% unemployment — a softer job market. Poverty rate: 21.3% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 22 minutes — acceptable. Rockford was founded in 1834 — that's 192 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 62.0 sq miles at 2,381 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 715 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 63/100 — It Depends.