Peoria vs Rockford
Compare Peoria, 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 $881/mo in Peoria and $941/mo in Rockford, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $965/mo and $1,031/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (236 vs 244 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Peoria runs summer highs near 86°F and winter lows near 15°F, while Rockford runs 84°F and 7°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Peoria; if walkable daily life matters more, Rockford screens stronger on the walkability proxy (14 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Peoria leads 77 to 74 on the work screen.
Rockford leads 42 to 38 on the daily life screen.
Rockford leads 54 to 48 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Peoria is roughly $42,500 in Rockford using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Peoria | Rockford | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $881/mo | $941/mo | Peoria |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $965/mo | $1,031/mo | Peoria |
| Median home value | $151,000 | $153,000 | Peoria |
| State income tax | 5.0% | 5.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 25.1 min | Peoria |
| Safety score | 56/100 | 56/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 4/10 | Peoria |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 14/100 | Rockford |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 153.1 | 167.4 | Rockford |
| Mountain distance | 133 mi | 245 mi | Peoria |
| Coast distance | 671 mi | 671 mi | Tie |
What stands out
Peoria stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 74 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Peoria 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 Peoria cheaper than Rockford?
On public benchmarks Peoria is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $881/mo in Peoria vs $941/mo in Rockford; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $965/mo vs $1,031/mo; state income tax is 5.0% vs 5.0%.
Is Peoria or Rockford safer?
Peoria screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 56/100 for Peoria and 56/100 for Rockford (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Peoria or Rockford?
School screens show 6/10 for Peoria 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 Peoria and Rockford?
Peoria: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 15°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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