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METRO AREA

Rockford Metro

Rockford, IL · 2 counties · 337,242 residents (2025 est.) · 793.791 sq mi
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The short version

Rockford has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,800. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $172,788. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
336,522
+5%since 2000
from 320,204 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
424 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 403 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.6
+11%since 2000
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:337,242 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
277K297K317K336K356K1990201020202024Rockford
2024337K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,800
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,997 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,349
+71%since 2000
from $21,246 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.6%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.7%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
+2%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$172,788
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,815 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,024
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $516 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.4%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
31.6% rent
Vacancy rate
6.7%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+19%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
11
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rockford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(256,353)
Black9.2%(29,390)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(24,425)
Asian1.5%(4,922)
Other0%
Diversity Score40.4%(129,332)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.4%(216,794)
Black10.1%(34,012)
Hispanic / Latino17.1%(57,665)
Asian2.6%(8,689)
Other5.8%(19,362)
Diversity Score67.7%(227,752)
Segregation Score35.1%(118,238)
Diversity Score
68
+68%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−13%since 2020
from 40 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.0%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.4%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+65%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 84.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 11.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.1%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
9.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2012
from 11.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.1%
−81.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.2%
+11.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 85.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 10.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

RockfordCENTRAL147,384
What's inside

2 component counties

Winnebago CountyCENTRAL283,674Boone CountyCENTRAL53,568
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Rockford

Clarksville
Pop 349,001
South Bend
Pop 324,538
Roanoke
Pop 316,547
Waco
Pop 308,807
Places similar to Rockford
Head to head

Compare Rockford side by side

ROCKFORD VS
Clarksville
Income$70,081+2%
Home value$250,970+45%
Population349,001+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKFORD VS
South Bend
Income$67,435−2%
Home value$196,800+14%
Population324,538−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKFORD VS
Roanoke
Income$70,385+2%
Home value$244,820+42%
Population316,547−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKFORD VS
Waco
Income$66,246−4%
Home value$233,362+35%
Population308,807−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rockford, IL?

Rockford, IL has about 336,522 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rockford, IL?

The typical household in Rockford, IL earns about $68,800 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rockford, IL expensive?

In Rockford, IL, the median home is worth about $172,788, and the typical rent is about $1,024 a month.

How educated are people in Rockford, IL?

About 25.0% of adults age 25 and over in Rockford, IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rockford, IL?

About 14.7% of people in Rockford, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rockford, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Rockford, IL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 52,803 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →