Uprootmap
Rockford vs Houston
Rockford and Houston
Photo: Marc Mongenet / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Houston are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Rockford to Houston
In 2022-2023, 41 households filed a move from Rockford to Houston (about 76 people, average adjusted gross income $35,732). 34 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $940 in Rockford and $1,188 in Houston. Rockford has a state tax on wages. Houston has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Houston is 102% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Rockford.
Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Rockford is 195 sunny days, 82°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 24 in Rockford.
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, 41 households moved Rockford → Houston (about 76 people, average AGI $35,732). 34 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 Rockford and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,121 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,800–$5,250
- Container or pod
- $2,000–$3,700
- Rent a truck
- $1,100–$2,050
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Dig into Houston
Questions
Is Houston cheaper than Rockford after tax and rent?
Yes. Houston leaves about $79 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $940 in Rockford and $1,188 in Houston.
Does Houston have state income tax?
Houston is in Texas, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Rockford to Houston?
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.