Rockford vs Cape Coral: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Rockford, Illinois compare to Cape Coral, Florida? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Rockford is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 62% lower in Rockford compared to Cape Coral, while rent is 44% lower. FL has no state income tax.
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Cape Coral, FL | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $114,100 | $302,400 | -62.3% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 | $1,630 | -44.4% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $72,474 | -30.0% |
| Per Capita Income | $29,187 | $37,621 | -22.4% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 5.0% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.8% | 7.0% | +26.0% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 148,173 | 198,912 | -25.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Rockford
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Cape Coral
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Rockford costs $114,100 compared to $302,400 in Cape Coral — a 62% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $906/mo in Rockford vs $1,630/mo in Cape Coral.
- Income: Median household income is $50,744 in Rockford and $72,474 in Cape Coral.
- Taxes: Florida has no state income tax, while Illinois has a 4.95% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).