Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Rockford
Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Rockford
In 2022-2023, 81 households filed a move from Phoenix to Rockford (about 141 people, average adjusted gross income $52,630). 133 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $940 in Rockford. Phoenix 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 97% in Phoenix.
Rockford averages 195 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 19°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Rockford and 26 in Phoenix.
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
In 2022-2023, 81 households moved Phoenix → Rockford (about 141 people, average AGI $52,630). 133 households went the other way.
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 Phoenix and Rockford changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,682 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,450–$6,450
- Container or pod
- $2,450–$4,600
- Rent a truck
- $1,450–$2,750
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Dig into Rockford
Questions
Is Rockford cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Rockford leaves about $227 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $940 in Rockford.
Does Rockford have state income tax?
Rockford is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix 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.