Uprootmap
Dubuque vs Rockford
Dubuque and Rockford
Photo: Boston Public Library / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Rockford are above the US rate in this release, 9.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Dubuque to Rockford
IRS migration on this site does not list a filed flow from Dubuque to Rockford above the cutoff in 2022-2023.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $806 in Dubuque and $940 in Rockford. Dubuque has a state tax on wages. Rockford has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Rockford is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 92% in Dubuque.
Rockford averages 195 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 19°F. Dubuque is 204 sunny days, 82°F in July, 18°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Rockford and 17 in Dubuque.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
The IRS did not publish a large enough Dubuque → Rockford pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Dubuque and Rockford changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 113 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Rockford
Questions
Is Rockford cheaper than Dubuque after tax and rent?
No. Rockford leaves about $438 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $806 in Dubuque and $940 in Rockford.
Does Rockford have state income tax?
Rockford is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Dubuque to Rockford?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.