City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Rockford, IL (92.2) and Waco, TX (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Rockford, IL goes as far as $100,400 in Waco, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $996 a month in Waco, TX versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Waco, 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 Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Waco, TX ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.9% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Waco, TX: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,430 in Waco | $99,572 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Waco, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
67 Fair offer
Waco, TX → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Waco, TX | Real change, Rockford → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −10.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −10.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −10.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −10.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −10.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,200 | $59,100 | $58,847 (−8.3%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $123,080 | $122,553 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $76,140 | $75,814 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $92,890 | $92,493 (+14.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.