City comparison
Huntington, WV vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 4.2% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $104,200 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $853 a month in Huntington, WV and $895 in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $920 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Huntington, WV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Huntington, WV to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +4.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.3% in real buying power.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (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
| Huntington, WV | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,221 in Rockford | $95,950 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$920/yr.
56 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$920/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntington, WV 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 Huntington, WV to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | Rockford, IL | Real change, Huntington → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +7.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +7.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +7.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +7.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +7.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $64,200 | $61,600 (+7.2%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $107,640 | $103,281 (−6.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $75,260 | $72,212 (+1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $80,930 | $77,653 (−4.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.