Rockford, IL Local Data & Statistics

State: IL

Total population: 147,521 Household income: $54,752 Rent: $985

Overview

Total population

147,521

Rent

$985

Year built

1963

Household income

$54,752

Per capita income

$31,263

Poverty rate

21.3%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Illinois

Total population

147,521

Adults over 25

98,585

Total households

61,324

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$54,752

Per capita income

$31,263

Poverty rate

21.3%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Rent over 30% of income

50.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$985

Year built

1963

Households that rent

45.1%

Households that own

54.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

52.6%

Black

19.9%

Asian

3.7%

Two or more races

13.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

21.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

78.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

89.9%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

10.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.7%

High school graduate or GED

30.4%

Some college or associate degree

12.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

23.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Rockford, IL with: Illinois United States

Rockford, IL

Total population147,521

Rent$985

Year built1963

Household income$54,752

Per capita income$31,263

Poverty rate21.3%

Unemployment rate5.3%

Illinois State

Total population12,694,798

Rent$1,274

Year built1971

Household income$83,390

Per capita income$46,406

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityRockford, IL	StateIllinois	CountryUnited States
Total population	147,521	12,694,798	334,922,499
Rent	$985	$1,274	$1,413
Year built	1963	1971	1980
Household income	$54,752	$83,390	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,263	$46,406	$44,673
Poverty rate	21.3%	11.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.3%	5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Rockford, IL, Illinois and United States →

Summary for Rockford, IL

Rockford is located in Illinois.

Rent & Income

In Rockford, the typical monthly rent is $985 and the typical household income is $54,752. Rent here is lower than in both Illinois and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 21.3%, which is higher than in both Illinois and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 45.1% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 50.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 23.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is higher than both Illinois and the national rate.

Rockford, IL — Rent vs Household Income

Rockford, IL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Rockford, IL compares in Illinois (29 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$985	4 / 29	from lower rent	$845 – $1,885
Household income	$54,752	28 / 29	from higher income	$51,592 – $155,105
Poverty rate	21.3%	27 / 29	from lower poverty	4.4% – 25.9%
Unemployment rate	5.3%	25 / 29	from lower unemployment	3.3% – 6.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Illinois with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Rockford, IL

Rent

Rent prices put Rockford in 4th place among 29 large communities in Illinois. Across Illinois, rents range from $845 in Decatur, IL up to $1,885 in Naperville, IL.

Household income

Looking at household income, Rockford places 28th out of 29 significant areas. Incomes across Illinois range between $51,592 in Decatur, IL and $155,105 in Naperville, IL.

Poverty rate

Rockford places 27th out of 29 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 4.4% in Naperville, IL up to 25.9% in Champaign, IL.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Rockford is ranked 25th out of 29 major areas. Across Illinois, rates go from 3.3% in Champaign, IL up to 6.2% in Waukegan, IL.

💰 Rent in Rockford, IL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $985 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Rockford, IL

Annual Household Income: $54,752

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Rockford, IL

Estimated Rate: 21.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Rockford, IL

In Rockford, IL, households that rent: 27,627 (45.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	27,627	45.1%
Owner-Occupied	33,697	54.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Rockford, IL

In Rockford, IL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 13,987 (50.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	13,987	50.6%
Other renter households	13,640	49.4%
Total renter households	27,627	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Rockford, IL

Less than High School: 33,217 people (33.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 29,941 people (30.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 12,297 people (12.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23,130 people (23.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 98,585

📊 Unemployment Rate in Rockford, IL

Estimated Rate: 5.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Savannah, GA147,546 Bridgeport, CT148,012 Denton, TX146,987 Pomona, CA148,391 Syracuse, NY146,211 Mesquite, TX148,848 Pasadena, TX149,345 Naperville, IL149,424 Surprise, AZ149,519 Joliet, IL149,785

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.