Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Rockford is a clear outlier at index 86. #1-ranked Rockford has a cost index 18 points lower than the top-5 average of 104. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own. That tracks.
#1 Ranked: Rockford — cost index 86, rent $1,151/mo, income $53,328
Rockford is a clear outlier at index 86
Retiree-weighted scoring: healthcare index 89, state tax 4.95%, cost index 86 — protecting fixed retirement income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Rockford is a clear outlier at index 86. #1-ranked Rockford has a cost index 18 points lower than the top-5 average of 104. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own. That tracks.
Retirement planning isn't just about lowest rent — it's about protecting a fixed income from healthcare costs and state taxes. We scored 5 cities in Illinois on what hits retirees hardest: cost of living, healthcare, and tax burden. Rockford leads with index 86, a 4.95% state tax rate, and a healthcare index of 89. The math checks out.
Real talk: Rockford is one of the cheaper options here. Fairly typical for a city this size. Rent is $1,151/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 86. Income sits at $53,328. You get the picture.
In plain English: What makes this tricky: Across Illinois, the average cost of living index is 104 — 8 points below the national median. And as a general rule, known for Chicago's premium versus downstate bargains, the state offers 5 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,779/month. That's $116 less than the national average of $1,895. Over thirty years of homeownership, the property tax savings alone are staggering (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Bottom line: Rockford leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1-ranked Rockford has a cost index 18 points lower than the top-5 average of 104. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
Rent in #1-ranked Rockford has increased from $1,087 to $1,151/mo over the past 12 months — a 6% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
146,120 residents · Illinois
Look, the numbers for Rockford are straightforward: 86 on the cost index, $1,151/month rent, $53,328 income. Moving on. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
150,489 residents · Illinois
So, Joliet. Cost index of 97, rent at $1,559/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $88,026, which is above average. There's not much to say about that beyond the obvious. That alone makes it worth considering.
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
The #3 spot goes to Chicago, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $2,292/month — costing renters $4,764 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 127. The 37% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
150,245 residents · Illinois
Naperville is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $2,157/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 122. Income sits at $150,937. About what you'd guess. Below the radar, but not for long.
113,310 residents · Illinois
In plain English: Here's Elgin by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 103. Rent: $1,736/month. Income: $88,316/year. Home price: $323,259. Population: 113,310. The strongest category is Utilities at 94; the most expensive is Healthcare at 106. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,908 per year vs. the national median. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
Rockford ranks #1 in Illinois for this analysis with a cost index of 86 and median income of $53,328.
Rockford scores highest for retirees due to its below-average cost of living, median rent of $1,151/mo, and competitive median income of $53,328.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Rockford (ranked #1) has a cost index of 86 and rent of $1,151/mo, while Elgin (ranked #5) has a cost index of 103 and rent of $1,736/mo — a 17-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Rockford is $1,151/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $744 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Rockford is $172,610, which is 3.2× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Illinois has a 4.95% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.83%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.73%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.