Akron vs Rockford
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $122,000 in Akron and $129,000 in Rockford.
- Households earn more in Rockford ($54,752 vs $48,076 median).
- Akron has the warmer winter: January highs of 36°F vs 29°F.
- Akron gets far more snow: 47 inches a year vs 37.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 189,691 | 147,384 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.4% | -1.1% |
| People per square mile | 3,063 | 2,257 |
| Median age | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24% | 24% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $48,076 | $54,752 |
| Median home value | $122,000 | $129,000 |
| Home value to income | 2.5× | 2.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $955 | $985 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 93.4 | 92.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 76.8 | 70.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $70,000 | $69,100 |
| Homeowners | 51% | 55% |
| Top state income tax | 2.75% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.29% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.2 | 21.9 |
| Work from home | 11% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.8% | 8.5% |
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 21.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 36° / 20° | 29° / 15° |
| July high / low | 84° / 63° | 84° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 42 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 47 in | 37 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 11 | 15 |
| Nights below freezing | 120 | 136 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 91.2 | 92.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 62% | 69% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.2% | +8.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +46.3% | +63.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Akron: May to October. Rockford: May and July to September.
Full monthly tables: Akron weather by month and Rockford weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,000 in Akron and $69,100 in Rockford. Moving from Akron to Rockford, you would need about $74,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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