City comparison
Akron, OH vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 1.3% higher than in Rockford, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Rockford, IL would need about $101,300 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,838 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.1% moving from Akron, OH to Rockford, IL ($111,138 → $118,984), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.5% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,698 in Rockford | $101,320 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,838/yr.
73 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,838/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Rockford, IL | Real change, Akron → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $68,999 | +8.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $83,482 | +8.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $100,059 | +8.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $118,984 | +8.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $140,604 | +8.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $64,200 | $65,047 (−17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $107,640 | $109,060 (+3.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,260 | $76,253 (−2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $80,930 | $81,998 (+1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.