Census ACS · #160 MSA
Rockford Metro Area
The Rockford, Il Metropolitan Statistical Area has 336,605 residents. The median household income is $66,571 and the median home value is $162,600.
336,605
Population
424
People / sq mi
$66,571
Median Income
$162,600
Median Home Value
The Rockford CBSA covers 794 sq mi of land at 424.0 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 69.9% |
| Black or African American | 11.6% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% |
Economy & Income
$66,571
Median Household Income
$35,355
Per Capita Income
11.0%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Rockford metro's price level is 92.2 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 7.8% lower the US average. The local median income of $66,571 has the buying power of $72,239 in average-priced US metros.
92.2
Price Level (US = 100)
$72,239
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$66,571
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$162,600
Median Home Value
$988
Median Rent
67.8%
Homeownership
Education
88.2%
High School+
24.4%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.5%
Drive Alone
8.5%
Work From Home
23.6 min
Avg Commute
20.7%
Foreign Born
Rockford spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Illinois
Largest counties in Illinois
Part of Illinois
Other metros
Metro areas in Illinois
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Rockford, Il Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 336,605 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #160 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Rockford metro area is $66,571, with a per capita income of $35,355.
The Rockford, Il CBSA spans the state of Illinois.
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More from Illinois
Data for the Rockford, Il CBSA (40420) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Rockford stands apart on settlement density — it is among the most densely settled of US metro areas, at roughly 424 people per square mile. Rockford is a metro area in IL with a population of 336,605.
Household earnings are middling, with a median of $66,571 — below the US median of $78,538. About 11.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level, below the national 12.4%. The typical home is valued at $162,600, with typical rent around $988.
Roughly 24.4% of adults have a bachelor’s, below the national 35.0%.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Rockford: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.