Pomona vs Rockford: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Pomona, CA and Rockford, IL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricPomona, CARockford, IL
Population149,831148,173
Median household income$73,515$50,744
Median home value$524,700$114,100
Median rent (/mo)$1,631$906

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Pomona, CA and Rockford, IL comes down to what you value most. Rockford has the lower median home value, and Rockford has the lower median rent.

Pomona has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Pomona or Rockford?
By median home value, Rockford is the cheaper of the two ($114,100 vs $524,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Pomona or Rockford?
Median household income is $73,515 in Pomona versus $50,744 in Rockford, per the US Census Bureau.

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