City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 3.5% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $103,500 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $895 in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,657 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.0% moving from Davenport, IA to Rockford, IL ($108,137 → $118,984), while prices change by +3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.4% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much 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
| Davenport, IA | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,452 in Rockford | $96,663 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,657/yr.
58 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,657/yr.
80 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Rockford, IL | Real change, Davenport → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $68,999 | +6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $83,482 | +6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $100,059 | +6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $118,984 | +6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $140,604 | +6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $64,200 | $62,058 (+0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $107,640 | $104,048 (−10.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $75,260 | $72,749 (−6.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $80,930 | $78,230 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.