Property Taxes Will Kill You
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5/26/2019
I was raised in the area and lived here 3/4 of my life.
Rockford has definitely made efforts to bring events into the area so there are things to do and they have added some bike paths and the like. Can't tell you a thing about clubbing since it isn't my thing, but I don't hear anything about it either.
You get really good bang for your buck in the housing department but you'll get creamed for property taxes. 66% of my property taxes goes towards the local school district. Expect 11% property tax rate (it varies per your township, county, and city) - so to figure out your tax rate if you are buying, take that purchase price number, divide it by 3, subtract $6K off that number if it is your primary residence, take that number and multiply by 11%. Property taxes never go down and fools keep voting in politicians that raise all of the taxes. The taxes is what is driving us out of the state. When your property taxes each month is more than the mortgage, you've got a problem.
There is a great state park nearby that has no charge to get in to, a fair amount of dog parks surround the area. You have easy access to Wisconsin and motorcycle riding.
Its well known to stay out of the west side of Rockford - it is crime laden there and its where the gangs are centered. A lot of the gangs have matriculated from Chicago. The crime rate has definitely spiked in the last 10 years - due to Chicago crime transplants Rockford now keeps making the Top 10 Worst Cities to live due to crime per capita. The surrounding areas of Rockton, Roscoe, Loves Park, Machesney Park, and Belvidere aren't nearly so infested. As a matter of fact Belvidere is one of the better rated towns in low crime - more cops per capita for one of those reasons.
Rockford downtown State St. has improved a lot in places for eating (more local eateries) and things to do that immediately surround it. If you want national chain eateries you want to go to E. State St., "the Strip" area.
Kristin | Belvidere, IL