Peoria vs Rockford
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $129,000 in Rockford and $156,200 in Peoria.
- Households earn more in Peoria ($59,410 vs $54,752 median).
- Peoria has the warmer winter: January highs of 34°F vs 29°F.
- Rockford gets far more snow: 37 inches a year vs 26.
- Commutes are shorter in Peoria (18 vs 22 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Peoria, IL | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 110,920 | 147,384 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2% | -1.1% |
| People per square mile | 2,305 | 2,257 |
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38% | 24% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $59,410 | $54,752 |
| Median home value | $156,200 | $129,000 |
| Home value to income | 2.6× | 2.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,005 | $985 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.2 | 92.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 63.8 | 70.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,400 | $69,100 |
| Homeowners | 58% | 55% |
| Top state income tax | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.98% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.9 | 21.9 |
| Work from home | 12% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.5% | 8.5% |
| Poverty rate | 21% | 21.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 34° / 18° | 29° / 15° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 84° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 26 in | 37 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 23 | 15 |
| Nights below freezing | 118 | 136 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 90.7 | 92.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 60% | 69% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +8.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +44.6% | +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: Peoria: April, June and August to October. Rockford: May and July to September.
Full monthly tables: Peoria 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 $68,400 in Peoria and $69,100 in Rockford. Moving from Peoria to Rockford, you would need about $75,800 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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