Rockford, Illinois Income Statistics
Rockford Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Rockford Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rockford | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,584 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,360 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.4% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rockford is about 35% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Rockford (3.9%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Rockford earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rockford, Illinois grew by 41.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,584 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rockford
| Metric | Rockford | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,510 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,650 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.0% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rockford, it is 0.548, about the same as Illinois's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Rockford, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $310,100 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rockford, Illinois has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,773 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rockford | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.8% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 5,630 people are unemployed in Rockford, Illinois.
The average commute time in Rockford is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rockford, Illinois has fallen from 13.5% to 8.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.5% in 2014.
Rockford, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Rockford, IL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | 139,970 | $54,584 #3/3 | 3.9%/yr #1/3 | 8.6% #3/3 | 0.548 #3/3 |
| Loves Park, IL | 23,190 | $60,940 | 2.9%/yr | 6.5% | 0.501 |
| Machesney Park, IL | 20,295 | $74,025 | 3.6%/yr | 6.9% | 0.512 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rockford, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Illinois, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rockford, Illinois.
How Rich Is Rockford, Illinois?
Rockford has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,584, about 35% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
Are incomes growing in Rockford, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rockford, Illinois rose 41%, from $38,582 to $54,584. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +41% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Rockford in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rockford, Illinois was $52,672, up 5% from $50,324 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Rockford in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rockford, Illinois was $44,640. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $54,584.
Is unemployment high in Rockford, Illinois?
Unemployment in Rockford, Illinois is 8.6%, well above the Illinois rate of 5.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rockford, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Rockford is 0.548. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rockford, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rockford, Illinois has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,773 since 2009.
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