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City · 147,521 residents · Winnebago County, Illinois

Rockford , Illinois

In Rockford, a typical home is worth $129,000 and typical rent is $985 a month. Compared with all of Winnebago County, the typical home value is 22% lower, typical household income is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $129,000

    22% below the county

    51% below Illinois

    • Rockford
    • Winnebago
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $985a month

    4% below the county

    23% below Illinois

    • Rockford
    • Winnebago
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $54,752a year

    17% below the county

    34% below Illinois

    • Rockford
    • Winnebago
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    11 points below the county

    12 points below Illinois

    • Rockford
    • Winnebago
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$185,067
9.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,227 a month
7.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Rockford is in Winnebago County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Winnebago County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rockford apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Rockford rose 9.5%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

  2. The typical home in Rockford is worth $129,000, 22% less than in Winnebago County as a whole ($164,500).

  3. The typical household income in Rockford is $54,752, 17% less than in Winnebago County as a whole ($65,837).

  4. 55% of households in Rockford own their home, against 66% in Winnebago County.

Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Rockford

What homes there are in Rockford, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Rockford, but it weighs less than in Winnebago County: 62% against 70%.

Year built

The typical home in Rockford was built in 1963, 8 years before the typical one in Winnebago County.

There are fewer big homes in Rockford than in Winnebago County: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 98% of owner-occupied homes in Rockford are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Winnebago County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Winnebago County is $1,172: about 64% of rents in Rockford are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,279 a month

Winnebago County: $1,411 a month

Without a mortgage

$583 a month

Winnebago County: $635 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Winnebago County: 58%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Rockford is $1,279 a month, less than in Winnebago County ($1,411); without one, $583.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Rockford rose 41%; in Winnebago County, it rose 37%.

Rents in Rockford rose at about the same pace as in Winnebago County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 28%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 24%, while home values changed +41% and rent +28%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRockfordWinnebago CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.2%4.6%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.1%1.0%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.7%1.9%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.342.412.462.53
Drive alone 74%77%66%69%
Carpool 12%10%8%9%
Public transit 1%1%6%3%
Walk or bike 1%1%3%3%
Work from home 10%10%16%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Winnebago County, the rental vacancy rate in Rockford is 5.2%.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.7% of households in Rockford live, near the figure in Winnebago County (1.9%).

A household in Rockford has 2.34 people on average, about the same as in Winnebago County (2.41).

To get to work, 74% of workers in Rockford drive alone; in Winnebago County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Rockford?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Rockford, worth $129,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Rockford, which is $54,752 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Winnebago County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rockford. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,515 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,246

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$126,663
Total interest
$182,239
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,178 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,278 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $1,278 to $1,643 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,643 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Rockford ($54,752 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,246
Principal & interest$858
Property tax$277
Home insurance$54
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$57

You need at least $4,515 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Rockford and Winnebago County

Rockford is in Winnebago County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Rockford's own numbers

Typical home value
$129,000
Typical monthly rent
$985
Typical yearly household income
$54,752
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
2.58%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Winnebago County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,172
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+68%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Winnebago County.

Everything about Winnebago County

Buying

Buying a home in Rockford

A typical home in Rockford is worth $129,000: 22% below the county and 51% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Rockford ($54,752 a year), a typical home costs 2.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Rockford 2.4 years
  • Winnebago 2.5 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Winnebago County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Winnebago County rose 100% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Winnebago County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.6% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +68% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +100% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Rockford next to Winnebago County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Rockford $129,000
  • Winnebago $164,500
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rockford $985
  • Winnebago $1,021
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rockford $54,752
  • Winnebago $65,837
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rockford next to Winnebago County and Illinois
Measure Rockford Winnebago County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $129,000 $164,500 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $985 $1,021 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $54,752 $65,837 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 66% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,330 $3,930 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.58% 2.39% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Winnebago County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Rockford

For a typical $129,000 home in Rockford, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rockford's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,246a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,515
    Cash to close
    $8,385
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $57

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,223a month

    Down payment
    $6,450
    Cash to close
    $10,320
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $61

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,030a month

    Down payment
    $25,800
    Cash to close
    $29,670
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,149a month

    Down payment
    $19,350
    Cash to close
    $23,220
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Rockford and for Winnebago County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rockford

2.58%of the home’s value each year

$3,330 a year for the typical owner in Rockford.

  • Rockford 2.58%
  • Winnebago 2.39%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Winnebago County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Winnebago County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2%
2,020
Of those, with NFIP insurance
25%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 25% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Rockford

Typical rent in Rockford is $985 a month: 4% below the county. In Rockford, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Winnebago County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,172 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.54 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Winnebago County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $816 $15.69 $32,640
1 bedroom $896 $17.23 $35,840
2 bedrooms $1,172 $22.54 $46,880
3 bedrooms $1,542 $29.65 $61,680
4 bedrooms $1,578 $30.35 $63,120

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Rockford

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rockford has 5 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 61104 to $1,480 in 61114.

2 of the 5 are above the fair market rent for Winnebago County ($1,172).

  • 61104 $1,060$1,400
  • 61107 $1,210$1,590
  • 61108 $1,170$1,540
  • 61109 $1,090$1,430
  • 61114 $1,480$1,950

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Rockford when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Rockford

HUD lists 47 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Rockford. These are the largest.

  • Park Terrace 1000 Chamberlain St, Rockford 61107 283 homes, 278 low-income · Run by Rockford Housing Authority · Average payment: $330 a month · Average wait: 13 months (815) 489-8520
  • Concord Commons Apartments 3552 Elm St, Rockford 61102 216 low-income homes · For families (815) 708-6409
  • Faust Landmark Apartments 630 E State St, Rockford 61104 201 homes, 200 low-income · For older adults (815) 962-3731
  • Luther Center 111 W State St, Rockford 61101 201 homes, 200 low-income · For older adults (815) 965-0055
  • Blackhawk Courts 1502 Spring Ct, Rockford 61104 196 homes, 195 low-income · Run by Rockford Housing Authority · Average payment: $298 a month · Average wait: 25 months (815) 489-8520

See all 62 buildings in Winnebago County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rockford

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Winnebago County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Rockford

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rockford or Winnebago County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Rockford the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Rockford

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Rockford, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Region 1 Planning Council

    127 N Wyman St, Rockford · 2 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (815) 319-4462

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois

    13707 W Jackson St, Woodstock · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (815) 338-5757

  • Restoration America, Inc.

    101 N Main St Ste 14, Crystal Lake · 38 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (847) 783-0232

Every agency in Winnebago County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Rockford

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Rockford

HUD’s record names them for Rockford or Winnebago County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Rockford Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (815) 489-8520
  • Winnebago County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (815) 963-2133

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Winnebago County

These cities are also in Winnebago County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Winnebago County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Rockford, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Winnebago County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Rockford.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Rockford

Short answers with the numbers for Rockford and all of Winnebago County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Rockford?

The typical home value in Rockford is $129,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Winnebago County it is $164,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Rockford?

Typical rent in Rockford is $985 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Winnebago County is $1,172.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rockford?

Rockford uses the FHA limit for all of Winnebago County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Rockford?

The typical homeowner in Rockford pays $3,330 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.58% of the home’s value; in Winnebago County, the rate is 2.39%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Rockford?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Winnebago County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).