Rockford, IL at a glance
Median household income
$54,752$4,563 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Rockford, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Rockford, IL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Rockford, IL MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $810 | $9,720 | $32,400 | 17.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $895 | $10,740 | $35,800 | 19.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,175 | $14,100 | $47,000 | 25.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,555 | $18,660 | $62,200 | 34.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,594 | $19,128 | $63,760 | 34.9% |
What a typical income covers in Rockford, IL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $54,752 a year ($4,563 a month before tax).
What $54,752 leaves after Illinois taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Illinois
Living in Rockford, IL: common questions
What is the median household income in Rockford, IL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Rockford, IL is $54,752 per year (approximately $4,563 per month).
What is the average rent in Rockford, IL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $810 for a studio, $895 for one bedroom, $1,175 for two, $1,555 for three and $1,594 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Rockford, IL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Rockford, IL?
To keep a $1,175 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $47,000 a year, or $3,917 a month. That is 86% of what the typical household in Rockford, IL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Rockford, IL?
On the local median income of $54,752 ($4,563 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,281 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,369 for everything else and $913 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,175 takes 52% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Rockford, IL?
Homes in Illinois paid 19.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $179. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.