City comparison
Lubbock, TX vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lubbock, TX (91.3) and Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lubbock, TX goes as far as $100,900 in Rockford, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $990 a month in Lubbock, TX versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Lubbock, TX and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Lubbock, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Lubbock, TX to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.8% in real buying power.
- Lubbock, TX: price level 91.3 (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
| Lubbock, TX | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.3 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,917 in Rockford | $99,092 in Lubbock |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $990/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $42,130 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Lubbock, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Lubbock, TX and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lubbock | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.4 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 82.8 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.3 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lubbock, TX → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
66 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Lubbock, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lubbock, TX 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 Lubbock, TX to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lubbock, TX | Rockford, IL | Real change, Lubbock → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +10.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +10.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +10.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +10.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +10.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lubbock, TX | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Lubbock dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,220 | $64,200 | $63,617 (+7.4%) |
| Software Developers | $115,190 | $107,640 | $106,662 (−7.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,390 | $75,260 | $74,576 (+0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,480 | $80,930 | $80,195 (−1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.