Average Rent in Rockford, IL↑ Rents rising 14.5% YoY🔺 7th priciest in IL

Rockford, IL has rental prices ranging from $810/month to $1,603/month in 2025, depending on unit size. The typical 1-bedroom apartment rents for $900/month — 36% below the national average of $1,400/month. With a median household income of $66,571/year, spending $900/month on a 1-bedroom represents 16% of gross income — within the recommended 30% threshold.

How Rockford Compares

With an average 2-bedroom rent of $1,181/month, Rockford ranks #7 most expensive of the 87 cities tracked in Illinois — pricier than 81% of all US cities in our data.

The Rockford Rental Market

The Rockford, IL area has a population of about 336,605 and 32% of households renting rather than owning. That is close to the US average renter share of ~34%.

Rent Trends

2-bedroom rents in Rockford, IL have risen by $150/month (14.5%) over the past year, from $1,031 to $1,181. This rate of increase is significant and reflects strong rental demand and limited housing supply in the local market.

Affordability

To afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Rockford, IL without exceeding the 30% housing cost guideline, a renter needs an annual income of approximately $36,000. The local median household income of $66,571 exceeds that threshold by $30,571, making Rockford relatively accessible compared to local wages.

Rent vs. Buy

The median home value in Rockford, IL is $184,772, giving a price-to-rent ratio of 13.0. The break-even point between renting and buying is roughly 13 years — renting offers more flexibility for shorter stays, while buying makes more sense for long-term residents.

Neighborhoods

Home values — and by extension rent levels — vary significantly across Rockford's neighborhoods. Among the highest-value areas are Cunningham Street ($90,867 median home value), South Sixth Street ($91,009 median home value), Beverly Park ($92,255 median home value). Rental prices typically follow home value patterns, with premium neighborhoods commanding higher rents than outer areas. Renters on a tighter budget may find better value in less central neighborhoods or in adjacent metros with lower overall rent levels.

Is Rockford, IL Affordable?

Income needed to rent or buy, price history, and how this city compares to nearby metros.

Rent or Buy in Rockford?

Break-even analysis and mortgage estimates based on local market data.

Living in Rockford

Cost of living, job market, crime rates, and moving cost estimates.