BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Rockford, IL

D
Score
44/100
Rank #153 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Rockford is more of a niche fit for remote work—best if you prioritize commute 45+ min share alongside typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s not a top-ranked option in this set (#153 of 200), so fit matters. One thing to keep in mind is median household income.

Methodology · Sources · IL rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Rockford ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $969/mo (33% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 10% (15% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 85% (7% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Median household income: $53,328 (29% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 8% (36% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
147,649
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$969/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
8%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
85%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$53,328
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
23%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
10%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
100/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
85/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
11/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
90/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

15%
Less than HS
62%
HS / Some college
15%
Bachelor’s
8%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

8%
Work from home
92%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

85%
Broadband
15%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$969/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
85%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
8%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$53,328
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
23%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
10%

Similar cities (by score)

#151 Birmingham, AL
44/100
#152 Worcester, MA
44/100
#154 Memphis, TN
43/100
#155 Knoxville, TN
43/100

FAQ

›What is Rockford’s remote work score and rank?
Rockford, IL scores D (44/100) and ranks #153 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Rockford city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Rockford, IL?
Population is about 147,649 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Rockford, IL?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Rockford, IL?
Typical rent (2BR) is $969/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Rockford, IL?
Work-from-home share is 8% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Rockford, IL?
Broadband subscription is 85% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Rockford, IL?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 15%, HS/some college 62%, bachelor’s 15%, advanced 8%.
›Where does this data come from for Rockford, IL?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).