Rockford vs Springfield
Compare Rockford, IL and Springfield, 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 $941/mo in Rockford and $921/mo in Springfield, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,031/mo and $1,070/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (244 vs 245 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Rockford runs summer highs near 84°F and winter lows near 7°F, while Springfield runs 90°F and 21°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Springfield; if walkable daily life matters more, Rockford screens stronger on the walkability proxy (14 vs 9). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Rockford leads 74 to 70 on the cost and climate screen.
Springfield leads 78 to 74 on the work screen.
Springfield leads 45 to 42 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Rockford is roughly $85,000 in Springfield using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Rockford | Springfield | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $941/mo | $921/mo | Springfield |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,031/mo | $1,070/mo | Rockford |
| Median home value | $153,000 | $163,000 | Rockford |
| State income tax | 5.0% | 5.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 21.4 min | Springfield |
| Safety score | 56/100 | 56/100 | Tie |
| School score | 4/10 | 7/10 | Springfield |
| Walkability estimate | 14/100 | 9/100 | Rockford |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 167.4 | 202.0 | Springfield |
| Mountain distance | 245 mi | 73 mi | Springfield |
| Coast distance | 671 mi | 634 mi | Springfield |
What stands out
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
Springfield stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 104 miles
- Mountain access within 73 miles
Springfield tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Rockford cheaper than Springfield?
On public benchmarks Springfield is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $941/mo in Rockford vs $921/mo in Springfield; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,031/mo vs $1,070/mo; state income tax is 5.0% vs 5.0%.
Is Rockford or Springfield safer?
Rockford screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 56/100 for Rockford and 56/100 for Springfield (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Rockford or Springfield?
School screens show 4/10 for Rockford vs 7/10 for Springfield, 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 Rockford and Springfield?
Rockford: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 7°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Springfield: 90°F / 21°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (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.
Start City Match