Decatur, IL vs Rockford, IL

Decatur is moderately more affordable than Rockford, with a 11.3% lower cost of living index. Decatur scores 62 compared to 70 for Rockford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rockford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Decatur is $796/month compared to $954/month in Rockford — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Decatur is more affordable at $97,300 median vs $120,900.

Median household income in Decatur is $50,809 compared to $53,328 in Rockford (-4.7%). Rockford does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Rockford.