Evanston, IL vs Rockford, IL

The cost of living difference between Evanston, IL and Rockford, IL is dramatic. Rockford is 79.1% cheaper than Evanston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Evanston has a cost index of 126 while Rockford sits at 70, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $954/month in Rockford — a 78% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rockford is more affordable at $120,900 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $53,328 in Rockford (+79.6%). While Evanston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Rockford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.4°F). Rockford receives more rainfall at 37.2" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.