What BestPlaces Users Say about Rockford
Rockford, Illinois is a city located in the northern part of the state. It has a population of approximately 145,000 and is known for its manufacturing and healthcare industries. Its cost of living is lower than the national average, but it also has a higher crime rate. The city has a mix of urban and suburban areas, with a variety of parks and recreational activities available. Now, let's take a look at what some users have to say about living in Rockford.
According to user "Sarah R.", Rockford has its ups and downs. She says, "I've lived here my whole life and it's a decent place to raise a family. There are some nice neighborhoods and good schools, but crime is definitely an issue in certain areas." Similarly, "John G." shares his experience, stating, "I've been here for a few years now and it's not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, there are some problem areas and the job market could be better, but overall it's a decent place to live."
On the other hand, user "Emily H." has a more negative view of Rockford. She says, "I moved here for work and I regret it. The crime is out of control and the city just doesn't feel safe. I also feel like there's not much to do here, especially for young professionals." Another user, "Mark T.", echoes this sentiment by stating, "I've lived in a few different cities and Rockford is by far the worst. It's run down, dirty, and just not a pleasant place to be. I can't wait to leave."
Overall, opinions on living in Rockford seem to be mixed. While some appreciate the lower cost of living and family-friendly areas, others are concerned about the high crime rate and lack of opportunities. It's important for individuals considering a move to do their own research and visit the city to see if it's the right fit for them.
based on 54 ReviewsGet to know Rockford with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Rockford
Moved back to be closer to family and lasted about - 9/2/2009
My wife, kids, and I moved back to Rockford to be closer to family last about two years ago. We tried our best to stay open minded but Rockford just had way too many problems. Schools with very poor ratings, high crime, high unemployment, crumbling infrastructure...huge potholes on many of it's streets. My brother who lives in Rockford sends his kids to a Keith Country day private school because he feels the Rockford Public Schools are so bad. With all these problems we kept asking ourselves why where our property taxes so high. It just seemed like we where getting very little in return for the HIGH taxes we where paying in Rockford. Anyway, as much as we wanted to stay, so that we could be closer to family, we just could not see our kids growing up in a city with so many problems. So we moved back to Matthews, North Carolina, a city with good schools, good roads, low crime, friendly people and good bang for your tax dollar buck. I will end my post by saying that many (but not all)
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this town sucks - 8/22/2009
apparently this city was once real prominent. but it is just a shell now. the west side of town has just been going under for years. no renovation. no motivation. no love. the roads are horrible and crime is high. this city is like a island all to itself. instead of renovating the train system that will give people the option to work in chicago which is 1 1/2 hrs away, which will create jobs, or building universities here and attracting companies that will allow you to make use of a good education, they just rather build jails and throw people away. thats the cities idea of building the economy. i believe almost every person in this city has had their name ran through this system. instead of creating situations to help the people of this city, the city just banks off of people by silly traffic stops. road blocks every week. the city has no hopes of building futures for people. just taking their money. The downtown is a hole in the wall. no night life, just jails. a metro center that
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Property taxes - 3/3/2009
Property taxes in this town are outrageous. The city lost a lawsuit years ago related to busing of school kids and the residents have been paying for it ever since in the form of high property taxes. My annual property tax bill is almost equal to six months worth of mortgage payments (principle &
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Rockford - 2/20/2009
The cost of living is pretty good, in that housing costs are low. Land is plentiful for development and labor costs are moderate. At the same time, the proximity of Chicago and the western suburbs pulls wages up somewhat, at least for white color workers. The amenities of other cities like Chicago, Madison, WI. and Milwaukee, WI. are within easy driving distance for any thing that one should desire from
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Rockford, IL - 2/11/2009
Rockford is a nice drive to Chicago, Madison or Milwaukee. It has a local airport (with a few destinations) and close to MAJOR AIRPORTS LIKE: ORD or MKE. The downtown/river district area is alright. DISCOVERY CENTER AND BURPEE HISTORY MUSEUMS MAKE IT GREAT FOR FAMILIES. THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT IS GREAT AND OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. THIS IS A GREAT AREA TO RAISE A
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Rockford, IL - 2/8/2009
Low cost of living, (79% of national average), affordable housing, Swedish/German roots, sports, theater, hotels, airport, public bus service, 8.25% sales tax, good restaurants, sports bars, mid-western culture (considerate of others), Rock River w/boating, annual waterfront festival. Cold in winter -25F this year. light-heavy snow (8-12").
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rockford cold - 1/25/2009
cold, cold, cold mostly cold some summer more snow than i care to have. Un friendly people, i think it is because it is so
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Property Values Exceptional - 12/2/2008
The Rockford area--including neighboring Boone County to the east--is a real bargain when it comes to residential properties. You get much more home and much more land for the dollar than in many similarly sized communities. And the proximity to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison makes the Rockford area ideal for easy commutes, access to outstanding arts and cultural venues, and shopping. The small-town feel is an added
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Illinois Second City - 6/28/2008
Rockford is a depressed, former manufacturing town that has given way to strip malls and fast-food joints.
Cheap housing, yes, but also cheaply built.
There really isn't anything special about Rockford that I can think of other than the great Gyros you can get at Uncle Nick's and the pizza at Lino's.
If you don't mind flipping burgers or working at the mall for minimum wage, it is pretty hard to find a "grown up" job to support a family. The overall Rockford "metro" area is the same. Lots of "bedroom" communities with no jobs so you have to drive into Rockford to work if you aren't a local farmer.
There is a definite ghetto area on the West Side, with lots of drugs and high crime as well as huge white collar drug trade. Public schools are horrible.
Other than MOVIE theaters, live theather is non-existant. Nothing socially stimulating other than going to the local sports bar to kick down domestic beer and buffalo
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Southern Transplant - 2/17/2008
We moved here from Charlotte, NC to be closer to relatives. We have lived in the south for over twenty years before moving back to Rockford. Have not been here long, about six months, but my first impressions are as follows:
Brutal Winters. You can go an entire week without seeing the sun...lots of grey dreary days...not for depressive types. The snow is pretty, however and Rockford has really nice parks and Golf courses. Housing prices are great... a lot of bang for your buck for a city so close to Chicago. Rockford is definitely a factory town in transition. As a struggling rust belt town you will find lots of folks who have gone from good paying factory jobs to low paying service jobs. Keep in mind that these are now the people who are now going to be waiting on you at the local Target, or Home Depot etc. In other words there are a lot of really angry folks currently living in Rockford. That's not to say that things wont change in time, but as of 2008 folks here are
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