Oak Park, IL vs Rockford, IL

The cost of living difference between Oak Park, IL and Rockford, IL is dramatic. Rockford is 66.8% cheaper than Oak Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Oak Park has a cost index of 117 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 Oak Park is $1,456/month compared to $954/month in Rockford — a 53% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rockford is more affordable at $120,900 median vs $456,300.

Median household income in Oak Park is $108,026 compared to $53,328 in Rockford (+102.6%). While Oak Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Park spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Rockford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 49.4°F). Rockford receives more rainfall at 37.2" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Park.