Bloomington, IL vs Rockford, IL

Rockford is moderately more affordable than Bloomington, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Bloomington scores 79 compared to 70 for Rockford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bloomington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $954/month in Rockford — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rockford is more affordable at $120,900 median vs $198,800.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $53,328 in Rockford (+41.5%). While Bloomington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Rockford.