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Economy, jobs and prices in Rockford, Illinois: official figures

The median household income in Rockford was $54,752 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 74th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Illinois median $83,390.

Median household income
$54,752
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
8.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
21.9 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$985
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$129,000
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
54.9%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
86.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Rockford?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Rockford averaged $31,263 a year in 2020-2024, 125th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Illinois: $46,406).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Rockford?

Rockford's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.474 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 220th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Rockford, Illinois?

8.5% of the civilian labor force in Rockford was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (5,859 people), 61st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Illinois' 5.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Rockford are working?

59.3% of Rockford's 116,367 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 83rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Rockford have jobs?

63,139 residents of Rockford held civilian jobs, 54.3% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 6 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Rockford?

The largest industry group for working residents of Rockford was education, health care and social assistance (22.7% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (18.3%) and retail trade (12.8%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Rockford work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 18.3% of working residents of Rockford, 37th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 9.4% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Rockford, Illinois?

Commuters in Rockford took 21.9 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 248th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 6.3% travelled an hour or more and 34.8% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Rockford get to work?

10.1% of workers living in Rockford worked from home in 2020-2024, 220th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 74.3% drove to work alone, 11.7% carpooled, 1.0% used public transport and 1.3% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Rockford, Illinois?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Rockford was $985 a month in 2020-2024, 55th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Illinois: $1,274).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Rockford?

Owner-occupied homes in Rockford had a median value of $129,000 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 25th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Illinois: $263,300).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Rockford?

The median home value in Rockford was 2.4 times the median household income, 12th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Rockford, Illinois own their home?

54.9% of the 61,324 occupied homes in Rockford were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 27,627 were rented, 326th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Illinois: 67.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Rockford have broadband?

86.6% of households in Rockford had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 61st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Illinois: 90.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Rockford have no internet?

10.2% of households in Rockford (6,245) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 42nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Rockford compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 750 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
747Hamilton$55,166
748Elyria$54,945
749Fort Smith$54,816
750Rockford$54,752
751Lawton$54,433
752Lansing$54,382
753Waco$54,365
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 699 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
696Enid$31,366
697Abilene$31,321
698Rochester$31,314
699Rockford$31,263
700El Cajon$31,254
701New Britain$31,171
702Lancaster$31,159
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 220 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
217Casa Grande0.475
218Madera0.475
219Victorville0.475
220Rockford0.474
221Millcreek0.474
222Fullerton0.474
223Wichita0.474
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 61 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
58Pasadena8.6%
59North Las Vegas8.5%
60Lauderhill8.5%
61Rockford8.5%
62Lawrence8.5%
63Yakima8.4%
64Turlock8.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 741 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
738Owensboro59.4%
739Rocky Mount59.4%
740Surprise59.3%
741Rockford59.3%
742Menifee59.2%
743Dayton59.2%
744Montgomery59.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 576 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
573Minneapolis22.0
574Pensacola22.0
575Prescott Valley21.9
576Rockford21.9
577McAllen21.9
578Urban Honolulu21.9
579Wyoming21.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 604 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
601Davenport10.3%
602Newport News10.2%
603Norfolk10.2%
604Rockford10.1%
605West Allis10.1%
606Bellflower10.1%
607Joplin10.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 456 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
453Stockton1.0%
454Sarasota1.0%
455Gilroy1.0%
456Rockford1.0%
457Perris1.0%
458Jackson1.0%
459West Sacramento1.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 37 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
34Rocky Mount18.5%
35Fort Smith18.4%
36Bowling Green18.4%
37Rockford18.3%
38Taylor18.2%
39Waukesha18.2%
40Canton18.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 434 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
431Tulare22.7%
432Kansas City22.7%
433Hampton22.7%
434Rockford22.7%
435Yuma22.7%
436Victorville22.7%
437Madera22.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 769 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
766Roanoke$996
767Lansing$993
768Shreveport$987
769Rockford$985
770Grand Forks$980
771Topeka$979
772Davenport$978
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 799 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
796Lorain$139,200
797Syracuse$138,400
798Kokomo$137,400
799Rockford$129,000
800Lansing$128,700
801Albany$124,300
802Harrisburg$124,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 809 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
806Springfield2.5x
807Gary2.4x
808Lansing2.4x
809Rockford2.4x
810Port Arthur2.3x
811Pharr2.3x
812Toledo2.3x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 498 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
495Buena Park55.0%
496Springfield55.0%
497Oshkosh55.0%
498Rockford54.9%
499Redding54.8%
500Normal54.8%
501Framingham54.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 763 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
760North Little Rock86.6%
761New Bedford86.6%
762Tuscaloosa86.6%
763Rockford86.6%
764Enid86.5%
765New Orleans86.5%
766Hialeah86.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Rockford ranks 42 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
39National City10.4%
40Macon-Bibb County10.4%
41Scranton10.3%
42Rockford10.2%
43Brownsville10.1%
44Anderson10.1%
45Lowell10.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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