Rockford vs Scranton
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $129,000 in Rockford and $158,100 in Scranton.
- Households earn more in Rockford ($54,752 vs $50,739 median).
- Scranton has the warmer winter: January highs of 36°F vs 29°F.
- Scranton gets far more snow: 45 inches a year vs 37.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 147,384 | 75,514 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1.1% | -1.1% |
| People per square mile | 2,257 | 2,984 |
| Median age | 37.7 | 37.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24% | 23% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $54,752 | $50,739 |
| Median home value | $129,000 | $158,100 |
| Home value to income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $985 | $1,048 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.2 | 93.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 70.1 | 67.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,100 | $70,200 |
| Homeowners | 55% | 50% |
| Top state income tax | 4.95% | 3.07% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.98% | 6.34% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 21.9 | 19.3 |
| Work from home | 10% | 9% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.5% | 5.4% |
| Poverty rate | 21.3% | 23% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 29° / 15° | 36° / 20° |
| July high / low | 84° / 64° | 85° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 37 in | 39 in |
| Snowfall per year | 37 in | 45 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 15 | 12 |
| Nights below freezing | 136 | 122 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 92.4 | 89.9 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 69% | 72% |
| Home prices, past year | +8.1% | +7.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +63.8% | +56.7% |
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: Rockford: May and July to September. Scranton: May to October.
Full monthly tables: Rockford weather by month and Scranton weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,100 in Rockford and $70,200 in Scranton. Moving from Rockford to Scranton, you would need about $76,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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