City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fort Wayne, IN (92.6) and Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fort Wayne, IN goes as far as $99,500 in Rockford, IL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $895 in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,885 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Fort Wayne, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Fort Wayne, IN to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.3% in real buying power.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (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
| Fort Wayne, IN | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,548 in Rockford | $100,454 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,885/yr.
70 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,885/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fort Wayne, IN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Fort Wayne, IN to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Rockford, IL | Real change, Fort Wayne → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +12.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +12.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +12.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +12.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +12.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $64,200 | $64,491 (+7.8%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $107,640 | $108,128 (+6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $75,260 | $75,601 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $80,930 | $81,297 (+2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.