Is Rockford cheaper than Spartanburg?

They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Rockford and Spartanburg metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.

Which has higher household income, Rockford or Spartanburg?

Household incomes are similar — $70,111 in the Rockford metro versus $68,505 in Spartanburg (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Does a paycheck go further in Rockford or Spartanburg?

It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($76,080 versus $75,238).

Which has cheaper rent, Rockford or Spartanburg?

Rockford has cheaper rent — a median of $1,014/mo versus $1,139/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Rockford vs Spartanburg

Metro-area medians — Rockford, IL Metro Area vs Spartanburg, SC Metro Area — not the cities proper.

Rockford comes out ahead, winning 5 of the 6 clearly-decided measures.

Rockford and Spartanburg are closely matched on both cost of living and household income. Adjusted for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches about as far in either.

Their widest everyday difference: Spartanburg has the tighter job market — 4.9% unemployment versus 6%.

For your salary & household

Enter your pay and household size to see what it's really worth here — the numbers update live and the link stays shareable.

Annual salary (gross)

Household size

Rockford, IL

$57,601

take-home / yr · 23% to tax

$62,505

real value after local prices

Spartanburg, SC

$58,400

take-home / yr · 22% to tax

$64,140

real value after local prices

On $75,000 for just you, Spartanburg leaves you about $1,635/yr better off after tax and local prices.

Take-home estimates a single filer taking the standard deduction (2025 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax) and isn't tax advice. “Real value” rebases take-home to average U.S. prices using the BEA cost-of-living index; the per-person figure uses the OECD square-root equivalence scale.

Measure

Rockford

Spartanburg

Livability (CityLedger)

37/100

36/100

Cost of living (price level, US = 100)

92.2

91.1

Cost-adjusted income (pay's real value)

$76,080

$75,238

Median household income

$70,111

$68,505

Median rent

$1,014/mo

$1,139/mo

Median home value

$188,400

$257,800

Unemployment

4.9%

Bachelor's degree or higher

26.7%

24.5%

Average commute

24.2 min

27.6 min

Air quality (median AQI)

Avg temperature

49°F

61°F

Choose Rockford for

+ Median rent
+ Median home value
+ Bachelor's degree or higher
+ Average commute
+ Air quality (median AQI)

Full Rockford profile →

Choose Spartanburg for

+ Unemployment

Full Spartanburg profile →

More comparisons

Metros closest to Rockford and Spartanburg on cost, income, size, and education.

Rockford vs Canton→Rockford vs Columbus→Rockford vs Fort Wayne→Spartanburg vs Flint→Spartanburg vs Gulfport→Spartanburg vs Clarksville→

Rockford vs Spartanburg — frequently asked

Is Rockford cheaper than Spartanburg?: They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Rockford and Spartanburg metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.
Which has higher household income, Rockford or Spartanburg?: Household incomes are similar — $70,111 in the Rockford metro versus $68,505 in Spartanburg (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).
Does a paycheck go further in Rockford or Spartanburg?: It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($76,080 versus $75,238).
Which has cheaper rent, Rockford or Spartanburg?: Rockford has cheaper rent — a median of $1,014/mo versus $1,139/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).