Champaign vs Rockford
Compare Champaign, IL and Rockford, IL on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $975/mo in Champaign and $941/mo in Rockford, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,049/mo and $1,031/mo. Across the four public-data screens Champaign comes out ahead (272 vs 244 summed points), though Rockford still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 86°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Rockford; if walkable daily life matters more, Champaign screens stronger on the walkability proxy (22 vs 14). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Rockford leads 74 to 68 on the cost and climate screen.
Champaign leads 79 to 74 on the work screen.
Champaign leads 56 to 42 on the daily life screen.
Champaign leads 69 to 54 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Champaign is roughly $127,500 in Rockford using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Champaign | Rockford | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $975/mo | $941/mo | Rockford |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,049/mo | $1,031/mo | Rockford |
| Median home value | $190,000 | $153,000 | Rockford |
| State income tax | 5.0% | 5.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 25.1 min | Champaign |
| Safety score | 56/100 | 56/100 | Tie |
| School score | 9/10 | 4/10 | Champaign |
| Walkability estimate | 22/100 | 14/100 | Champaign |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 214.1 | 167.4 | Champaign |
| Mountain distance | 137 mi | 245 mi | Champaign |
| Coast distance | 595 mi | 671 mi | Champaign |
What stands out
Champaign stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 112 miles
- Strong education proxy
Champaign tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Rockford stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 40 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Rockford tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Champaign cheaper than Rockford?
On public benchmarks Rockford is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $975/mo in Champaign vs $941/mo in Rockford; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,049/mo vs $1,031/mo; state income tax is 5.0% vs 5.0%.
Is Champaign or Rockford safer?
Champaign screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 56/100 for Champaign and 56/100 for Rockford (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Champaign or Rockford?
School screens show 9/10 for Champaign vs 4/10 for Rockford, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Champaign and Rockford?
Champaign: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 14°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Rockford: 84°F / 7°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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