The largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford is the fifth-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States. According to 2020 U.S. Census data, the City of Rockford had a population of 148,655 with an outlying metropolitan area population of 348,360.
What kind of town is Rockford Illinois?
Introduction to Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a city located in northern Illinois about 85 miles northwest of Chicago. Sitting on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford serves as the county seat of Winnebago County and is one of the state’s largest cities.
Is Rockford IL a big city?
Rockford’s population is 147,651 (2016), making it one of Illinois’ largest citiessmaller than Chicago, but bigger than Peoria or Springfield. Rockford’s the county seat of Winnebago County, population 285,873 (2016). The city encompasses 61 square miles, while the county covers 513 square miles.
Is Rockford a small town?
Rockford is a full-service community with small-town charm and the amenities of a large City. The residential growth of the area is tremendous.
Is Rockford Illinois poor?
It is also the county seat of Winnebago County. Rockford is currently declining at a rate of -0.28% annually and its population has decreased by -0.57% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 148,655 in 2010. The average household income in Rockford is $61,396 with a poverty rate of 21.82%.
Why are houses so cheap in Rockford IL?
“What makes Rockford so affordable is that we just have a lot of high-quality homes that people can enter into at different price points,” Brown said. Even given this increase, Brown says there are still some hurdles, especially with Illinois currently experiencing a mass migration out of the state.
Is Rockford IL a nice place to live?
Citing great activities, location in relation to large cities such as Chicago, IL and Madison, WI, as well as, the quality of life are reasons Rockford has made the list. With a ranking of 7.3 for value, 5.7 for quality of life, and a 5.8 overall ranking.
Why are people leaving Rockford Illinois?
Some factors include job stability, high taxes, and crime. Over the course of a decade, Rockford has lost over 7,000 people–5% of the population. “It’s more than just people migrating out there’s other factors that play in it too the impact of declining birth rates.
What is it like to live in Rockford?
The community is really active, there are plenty of resources for help, people are really kind here. There are some crime areas but that’s EVERYWHERE. Rockford has a beautiful river area(Sinnissippi), great food, entertainment, and community events.
What is Rockford known for?
Steeped in regional history and defined in large part by the Rock River, which divides the city and downtown, Rockford is also known as the City of Gardens, and for good reason. With landscaped areas like Anderson Japanese Gardens and the Nicholas Conservatory, there is always something in bloom somewhere in the city.
Should I move to Rockford IL?
Because Rockford is beginning to thrive, it’s a good time to move here. You’ll find the cost of living is low, housing is affordable, and the area is continuing to become safer each year. Rockford seems to be making a turn for the better.
Is Rockford the second largest city in Illinois?
Located in Winnebago County in the northern central part of Illinois, Rockford is the state’s third biggest city. Rockford is also the biggest city in Illinois not to be included in the Chicago metropolitan area.
How much snow does Rockford Illinois have?
35.2 in
Regional Climate Data
| Average Winter Temperature | 22.1° F | -5.46° C |
|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Rainfall | 36.28 in | 92.15 cm |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 35.2 in | 89.41 cm |
| Average Annual Days Below Freezing | 144 | |
| Heating Degree Days | 3,186 |
What is the racial makeup of Rockford IL?
The 5 largest ethnic groups in Rockford, IL are White (Non-Hispanic) (53.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (21.1%), White (Hispanic) (14.2%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (3.36%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.34%). 0% of the households in Rockford, IL speak a non-English language at home as their primary language.
What is the average household income in Rockford IL?
Table
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-2020 | 21.8 |
| Income & Poverty | |
| Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020 | $44,771 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020 | $26,500 |
Where does Rockford IL get its water?
Water is obtained from 30 wells (not the Rock River). There are 28 reservoirs and 2 elevated tanks. Annual production is 7.6 billion gallons. Average consumption is approximately 16.7 million gallons per day, but the system is capable of producing up to 40.0 million gallons per day.
Is Rockford worth visiting?
The city of Rockford is blessed with an abundance of gorgeous outdoor areas, and if you like nature then you will not be bored here thanks to botanical gardens, nature centers, and hiking trails galore.
Is Illinois a good place to live?
Illinois is the 18th-best state to live in the country, according to WalletHub’s 2021 Best States to Live In list. WalletHub compared all 50 states across five metrics covering affordability, economy, education and wealth, quality of life and safety.
Is Rockford Illinois a good place to live Reddit?
Rockford has made it high up on the “most dangerous cities in America” list in the past few years. I was a bit shocked that it was ranked even higher on this list than Chicago. Cost of houses seems to be somewhat decent, except the insane property taxes seem to negate this.
What is the fastest shrinking city in Illinois?
The town of Cicero and Arlington Heights rounded out the top three places with shrink in 2021, at 1,703 and 1,377, respectively. As for the metro-east, Belleville recorded an estimated loss of 465 residents from 2020 to 2021, according to census data.
Where are Chicago residents moving to?
South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina ranked highest for inbound moves nationally. The report found most Chicagoans leaving the state were most likely to take up residence in Phoenix, Los Angeles or Houston. Census data shows Illinois’ population declined by 113,776 from July 1, 2020, through July 1, 2021.