Livability Score

61
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities F

There are not many amenities close to this location.
Coffee (16) F
Wired Cafe
Coffee Shop
Mary's Market
Coffee Shop
Banana Cherry Bakery
Coffee Shop
Restoration Cafe
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Meg's Daily Grind
Coffee Shop
Doughboys Donuts
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Doughboys Donuts
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (25) F
The Office
Nightclub
Sinnissippi Park Band Shell
Theatre Arts
Alpine Hills Adventure Park
Theme Park
Burpee Museum
Museum
Discovery Center Museum
Museum
Harry and Della Burpee Art Gallery
Theatre Arts
Coronado Performing Arts Center
Theatre Arts
Rockford Art Museum
Museum
BMO Harris Center
Stadium
Ethnic Heritage Museum
Museum
Tinker Swiss Cottage & Gardens
Museum
Marinelli Field
Stadium
Clark Arts Center
Theatre Arts
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
Attraction
Clarcon Pavilion
Attraction
Fountain Garden
Attraction
Children's Garden
Attraction
Park Lanes
Bowling Alley
Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurent House
Attraction
Food and Drink (99) D-
Subway
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Uncle Nick's
Fast Food
Oasis Micro-Pub
Bar
Rue Marche
Bar
McDonald's
Fast Food
Popeyes
Fast Food
Irish Rose Saloon
Bar
Vintage @ 501
Bar
Royal Liquors
Alcohol
Taco Bell
Fast Food
CJ's Lounge
Bar
Subway
Fast Food
The Victory Tap
Bar
Carlyle Brewing Company
Bar
Mary's Place Bill bartendar grey hair
Bar
Prairie Street Brewhouse
Bar
Subway
Fast Food
Mandalay Lounge
Bar
Baskin-Robbins
Sweets
McDonald's
Fast Food
Fitness (7) F
St Elizabeth Catholic Community Center
Community Centre
Planet Fitness
Gym
Ortho Illinois Physical Rehabilitation
Gym
Anytime Fitness
Gym
Anytime Fitness
Gym
Groceries (22) F
Schnucks
Grocery Store
Sugarjones
Bakery
Dollar General Market
Grocery Store
ALDI
Grocery Store
Bella Luna Bakery
Bakery
La Chiquita Food Market
Grocery Store
El Carrucel
Bakery
Gray's IGA Foods
Grocery Store
Bakery Outlet
Bakery
Valli Produce
Grocery Store
Aldi
Grocery Store
Ole Saltys
Grocery Store
Schnucks
Grocery Store
Save-A-Lot
Grocery Store
Parks (162) A+
Churchill Park
Park
Southeast Park
Park
Twin Sister Hills Park
Park
Twin Sisters Hills - Dahlquist Park
Park
Dahlquist Park
Park
Tenth Avenue Playground Pool
Park
Tenth Avenue Park
Park
Heritage Park
Park
Highland Playground
Playground
Nelson Park
Park
Highland Playground
Park
Highland Playground
Park
Haight Park
Park
Harmon Park
Park
Haight Village Historic District
Park
Ingersol Centennial Park
Park
Alpine Park
Park
Sinnissippi Park and Golf Course
Park
Sinnissippi Park
Park
Beyer Stadium Park
Park
Davis Park
Park
Beattie Park
Park
Museum Park
Park
South Park
Park
Kevin Erwin Memorial Playground
Playground
Shops (161) D-
Dollar General
Discount Store
Circle K
Convenience Store
Tri-B Hardware Supply
Home Improvement
BP Shop
Convenience Store
Circle K
Convenience Store
Dollar General
Discount Store
Lions QuickMart
Convenience Store
Novedades Azteca Inc
Clothing
East State Market
Convenience Store
Mobil Mart
Convenience Store
Sims Jeweler
Fashion
Family Dollar
Discount Store
Northern Illinois Optical
Optician
Runner's Image
Clothing
Circle K
Convenience Store
Polo PC Repair
Electronics
Salon Pink
Beauty
Mobil Mart
Convenience Store
Downtown Shoes & Boutique
Shoes
L T Nails
Beauty
Family Dollar
Discount Store
Rent-A-Center
Furniture
South Main food & liquor
Convenience Store
Choice Furniture
Furniture
The MYO store
Nutrition Supplements
See more Rockford amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 1.8% take public transportation in Rockford.
Public Transit Stops (15)
Stops & Stations
F
E State & Lynmar
Bus Stop
RMTD Downtown Station
Bus Stop
RMTD Bus Terminal
Bus Station
Roxbury & State
Bus Stop
Forest Plaza @ Stop Sign
Bus Stop
Forest Plaza @ Old Navy
Bus Stop
Forest Plaza @ Office Max
Bus Stop
RVC Jefferson
Bus Stop
Rockton and Halsted
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
1.8%
F
See more Rockford commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Rockford is 84/100 - which is 13% lower than Illinois.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
A+
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
D+
See more Rockford cost of living data

crime F

Rockford crime rates are 4,065 per 100k, which is 106% higher than Illinois
Property Crime
2,635 crimes per 100k
F
Violent Crime
1,430 crimes per 100k
F
See more Rockford crime data

employment D-

The median income in Rockford is $44,771 - which is 24% lower than Illinois.
Med. Household Income
$44,771
F
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
F
See more Rockford employment data

health A+

There are not many hospitals, police and fire stations,
Health & Safety (125)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Schnucks Pharmacy
Pharmacy
SwedishAmerican Hospital
Hospital
Rockford Police Department - District 2
Police
Swedish-American Hospital
Hospital
SwedishAmerican Women & Children's Hospital
Hospital
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Rockford Fire Department - Station 2
Fire Station
Orthodontic Experts
Dentist
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Fire Station Number 10
Fire Station
Asma Khan
Doctor
OSF Medical Group - Primary Care
Hospital
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Fire Station Number 11
Fire Station
Rockford Fire Station 1
Fire Station
Rockford Fire Department - Station 8
Fire Station
Rockford Fire Station 7
Fire Station
Fire Station Number 7
Fire Station
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Dr. Jacob Caraotta
Doctor
Dr. Lance Myers
Doctor
Dr. Nicholas Micka
Doctor
Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedic
Clinic
Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedic
Clinic
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
B
See more Rockford health & safety data

housing A+

Rockford home prices are $95,200 - which is 46% lower than Illinois
Home Price
$95,200
F
Home Appreciation Rate
4%
B-
Home Affordability
2.1x (home price to income ratio)
A+
See more Rockford housing data

schools F

The Rockford graduation rate is 77% - which is 9% lower than Illinois
School Test Scores
17%
F
High School Grad. Rates
77%
D
Elementary Schools (57) D-
John Nelson Elem School
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
Jackson Charter School
Kishwaukee Elem School
St James Catholic School
Whitehead Elem School
Bernard W Flinn Middle School
Rolling Green
Beyer Elem School
Maud E Johnson Elem School
C Henry Bloom Elem School
Keith Country Day School
St Edward School
St Peter Cathedral
Haskell Elementary School
Swan Hillman Elem School
Washington Elementary School
Our Lady Sacred Heart Academy
Wm Nashold Elem School
Holy Family Catholic School
Alpine Academy
Eisenhower Middle School
Gregory Elem School
A C Thompson Elem School
Barbour Two-Way Lang Immersion
High Schools (20) F
Rockford East High School
Keith Country Day School
Roosevelt Center
Our Lady Sacred Heart Academy
Rockford Iqra' School
Jefferson High School
See more Rockford education data

ratings F

Rockford has an overall rating of 32% from 39 reviews.
User Reviews (8)
From AreaVibes
F
User Surveys (31)
From AreaVibes
F
See more Rockford user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
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( 39 Ratings )

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Rockford Reviews

Write a review about Rockford Tell people what you like or don't like about Rockford…
What a hellhole! 1 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 18, 2019) Wow! This place is unreal. After living in 13 states and countless cities for my job, I've landed in Rockford for a one year assignment. The town is run down and filthy. Crime is out of control, everywhere. It doesn't matter where you go in Rockford, it's bad. A lot of lose ...Read More rs here in a hurry to get to their next hit. Most residents seem very angry with a chip on their shoulder ....of course if I had to spend my whole life in this loser town I'd be angry and have a chip on my shoulder too. Very much a town of haves and have-nots; not much in the middle. Jobs are low-paying, rental properties are either very low quality or very over-priced. Anyone who makes decent money moves out to the more rural areas north and east of Rockford to escape the crime. Once my assignment is over I'll move on and erase this hellhole from my memory. For now I just chuckle at those who are stuck here and will spend their days wallowing in their anger and poverty. Read Less
A city of losers 0.5 rating By craft1011@aol.com ( Nov 27, 2017) Living in Rockford is like living in Nazi Germany.....in 1945. Enjoy the ruins. City run by corrupt, stupid and foolish people. If you are thinking of moving to Rockford.....pick any other community in the US......and do yourself a favor.....or buy a gun, ready to pay for private ...Read More school, watch a lot of TV and brain wash yourself into acting and talking like everybody else for fear the wasps attack. A city being run into the ground by the evangelicals and other brain dead people. Read Less
Been here my whole life 1 rating By Jj2 ( Jan 08, 2017) I feel for this city and the people here. The nice parts are nice, but it seems to be quite a pessimistic place. WOULD NOT RAISE FAMILY HERE. There are a lot of weirdos here, but also a lot of really good people. If you do raise your kids here they will be a little more conscious ...Read More of some of the harder realities of life than kids in other places. Many people who have decent jobs here move to the slightly more rural parts of Belvidere or even Roscoe and seem to have a good setup. If you have the heart to help others... thiis would be a good town to move to. Read Less
Get out of this town while you still can! 0.5 rating By bglazier95 ( Dec 23, 2016) This town is racists, homophobic, xenophobic and this town is dead there is creation no ideas I feel everybody here are robots and its constricting you can't breath. No freedom no nothing and there's nothing to do here anyways. My wife and I are in a interracial marriage and we b ...Read More een her for 4 months and nobody wants to talk to us or anything. I feel this town is all black white grey in the middle town. There's in no rainbow no colors no happiness no joy just nothing but doom and gloom depressing. I don't like it here whatsoever. I don't even take the cops seriously here its like they don't care. Also I never been in a town where people work together I feel they're out to get my wife and I because we're in a interracial marriage. We get the stares and the looks and that I'm getting sick and tired of and no thanks with Trump being in office everything went down hill from here. People are just so mean. LGBTQ and women and everybody else has rights. My wife is a transgender woman and we both deserve respect and I'm a proud democrat/liberal. Read Less
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Been here my whole life 1 rating By Jj2 ( Jan 08, 2017) I feel for this city and the people here. The nice parts are nice, but it seems to be quite a pessimistic place. WOULD NOT RAISE FAMILY HERE. There are a lot of weirdos here, but also a lot of really good people. If you do raise your kids here they will be a little more conscious ...Read More of some of the harder realities of life than kids in other places. Many people who have decent jobs here move to the slightly more rural parts of Belvidere or even Roscoe and seem to have a good setup. If you have the heart to help others... thiis would be a good town to move to. Read Less
Get out of this town while you still can! 0.5 rating By bglazier95 ( Dec 23, 2016) This town is racists, homophobic, xenophobic and this town is dead there is creation no ideas I feel everybody here are robots and its constricting you can't breath. No freedom no nothing and there's nothing to do here anyways. My wife and I are in a interracial marriage and we b ...Read More een her for 4 months and nobody wants to talk to us or anything. I feel this town is all black white grey in the middle town. There's in no rainbow no colors no happiness no joy just nothing but doom and gloom depressing. I don't like it here whatsoever. I don't even take the cops seriously here its like they don't care. Also I never been in a town where people work together I feel they're out to get my wife and I because we're in a interracial marriage. We get the stares and the looks and that I'm getting sick and tired of and no thanks with Trump being in office everything went down hill from here. People are just so mean. LGBTQ and women and everybody else has rights. My wife is a transgender woman and we both deserve respect and I'm a proud democrat/liberal. Read Less
Stay Away Racists town! 0.5 rating By maddie19812004 ( Dec 23, 2016) This entire city is racists and the old people are the worst of the the bunch have you ever been threatened due to you being in an interracial marriage somebody makes a finger gun is a threat on your life yeah I suggest you stay out if you value your families life stay away to ma ...Read More ny butt muncher's.. They always like to think they got the upper hand on you but they don't my wife and I have been threatened the entire town works together to evict people the cops are the worst one hour for a domestic dispute the cops bully and harass you this Is a communist state stay away... Read Less
Rockford, Illinois is corrupt to the core. 1 rating By nancyk28 ( Feb 09, 2016) I gave Rockford, Illinois a "1" because I was forced to assign a rating, but I actually think this town is worse than a "1". Rockford, Illinois is controlled by a coalition of Italians and Jews who enforce a kind of martial law upon the citizens. There is no justice in Rockford ...Read More , Illinois, which is appalling because it has a crime rate, as high as the city of Chicago, which is the highest in the country. The Italians in Rockford, Illinois have a stranglehold on the entire city government, and, in conjunction with the Jews, impose a vicious and unfair illegal system on the citizens who are victimized on a daily basis. I would strongly advise against moving to Rockford, Illinois, and also advise against even traveling through Rockford, Illinois. The Jewish-Italian coalition advertises its power and is not shy about its total control of the city. Avoid this town at all costs. Read Less
a great history but not the place for me 3 rating By LoriAutumn ( Sep 14, 2013) I have lived in Rockford since I was born, so for over 20 years now. I have always been involved in sports including Hockey, cheer-leading, and rugby. My dad always took me to neighborhood things. Now that I am starting my own family, this is not the place I want my child to grow ...Read More up. The crime is awful and to have fun there aren't many free activities to do. Kids are always dropping out of school and the public school system sucks here. The weather isn't all that great, very cold winters for me! Goodness, don't forget the potholes, don't go without a spare tire in your car! Overall, Rockford does have sports event like the Rockford Icehogs, and sports the park district has are becoming for all kids. Rockford, does have a great place for kids, but i bet there are more bars here than anything. Lots of churches, but our crime rate is high? Read Less
The Wonderful World of Rockford, Illinois 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 06, 2010) I had the pleasure of staying in Rockford, Illinois for a few days on my way to visit family in Wisconsin last summer. The hotel we booked in Rockford was pretty average. Not really anything special. The thing that stuck with me most about Rockford was a beautiful Japanese garden ...Read More . It was laid out well, had some nice little waterfalls, and smelled amazing.

Carlyle Brewing Company is another little gem in the city of Rockford. A brewpub with a nice atmosphere, it's very friendly and has a lot of regulars. The beer ranges from watery and flavorless to amazing, asking one of the regulars can get you the best beer you've ever tasted. Every restaurant in Rockford that we tried had amazing food. Even the pizza joints had a lot of personality and offered some of the best pizza I've ever had.

The only problem I really saw with this city was when the lights went down. There were a few areas throughout the city of Rockford that you may want to avoid. I didn't see anything dangerous, but did have that unsafe feeling that you always want to avoid.

But, overall Rockford was a great place to visit and I plan on stopping by the next time I'm in the area. Read Less

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Rockford Awards

Compare Rockford, IL Livability

      vs

      Rockford, IL

      Rockford, Illinois is something of a hidden gem in the upper northern area of the state. As the third-largest city in the state and the largest outside of the Chicago metro area, Rockford contains all the joys of big city living without having to deal with all the frustrations like slow traffic, massive crowds, and deafening noise. In recent years, the city has been an epicenter for aerospace, healthcare, and automotive industries as well as a budding tourist destination thanks to efforts to revitalize the downtown area. Nicknamed the Forest City because of the lush woods that surround the water, Rockford sits on the bank of the Rock River and is made up of a unique combination of specialty boutique shops, award-winning restaurants, and booming business opportunities.

      While the city's population is down in recent years, moving to Rockford is something many individuals are leaping at the opportunity to do. Cost of living — from housing to transportation to groceries — is significantly lower than in Chicago and even lower when compared to the United States' averages on the whole. Median home costs and rental fees are both incredibly affordable, and unemployment in the city has recently seen a substantial drop. It's the perfect combination of opportunity and affordability if you're looking to enjoy city living without city stressors.

      Like Chicago to the south of Rockford, the Forest City is known for its excellent public transportation. Well-maintained highways bring in visitors from all over — from Wisconsin to Iowa to a whole slew of different parts of Illinois, Rockford welcomes everyone they share the road with. On top of this, the city also contains a bus system with dozens upon dozens of stops. Unfortunately, passenger rail service in Rockford is notably lacking. Cut off in the early 1980s for budgetary reasons, the state has never been able to revisit Rockford as an Amtrak stop because of their ongoing statewide financial crisis.

      All in all, Rockford is an ideal place to live for anyone looking to start a family without going bankrupt, start or pursue a new business opportunity without having to risk boatloads of money, or retreat to a quieter city without so much hustle and bustle. Their incredibly affordable cost of living makes the city perfect for families who are just starting out or individuals sick of the pricey lifestyle of places like Chicago or New York. The Midwest is an area that opens all visitors with open arms. If you're coming from outside the region, the friendly faces and pleasant people will feel like a breath of fresh air. For those who come from other parts of the Midwest, you'll be happy to know that Rockford upholds the region's values perfectly.

      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Rockford? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Churchill Park
      Southeast Park
      Twin Sister Hills Park
      Twin Sisters Hills - Dahlquist Park
      Dahlquist Park
      Tenth Avenue Playground Pool
      Tenth Avenue Park
      Heritage Park

      Entertainment

      The Office
      Sinnissippi Park Band Shell
      Alpine Hills Adventure Park
      Burpee Museum
      Discovery Center Museum
      Harry and Della Burpee Art Gallery
      Coronado Performing Arts Center
      Rockford Art Museum

      Food & Drink

      Subway
      McDonald's
      Burger King
      Subway
      Wendy's
      McDonald's
      Uncle Nick's
      Oasis Micro-Pub

      D+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Rockford? Of all people who commute, 1.8% take public transportation in Rockford.
      Drive to Work
      78%

      2% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      2%

      3% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Rockford a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      OSF Medical Group - Primary Care
      SwedishAmerican Women & Children's Hospital
      SwedishAmerican Hospital
      Saint Anthony Medical Center
      Swedish-American Hospital
      Mercyhealth Hospital–Rockton Avenue
      MercyHealth - Riverside Medical Center
      Department Of Veteran Affairs

      Pharmacies

      CVS Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Meijer Pharmacy
      Schnucks Pharmacy
      Walgreens
      Walgreens
      Lehan's
      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors

      Alpine Health Center
      Dr. Lance Myers
      Dr. Jacob Caraotta
      Jacob Caraotta, DC
      Dr. Nicholas Micka
      Dr. Agnieszka Cluchey
      Dr. Mary White
      Wight Care Clinic