Peoria, IL vs Rockford, IL

Peoria, IL and Rockford, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Peoria scores 72 while Rockford scores 70 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Peoria is $951/month compared to $954/month in Rockford — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Peoria has cheaper rent, Rockford actually has lower median home values ($120,900 vs $149,500).

Median household income in Peoria is $58,716 compared to $53,328 in Rockford (+10.1%). While Peoria is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Peoria spend roughly 19.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Rockford.

Climate-wise, Peoria is notably warmer with an average of 52.7°F compared to 49.4°F in Rockford. Peoria receives more rainfall at 37.6" per year compared to 37.2" in Rockford.