City comparison
Canton, OH vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 3.1% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $103,100 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $895 a month in Rockford, IL versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Rockford, IL and 13% in Canton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,838 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.1% moving from Canton, OH to Rockford, IL ($111,138 → $118,984), while prices change by +3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.9% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Canton, OH | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,074 in Rockford | $97,018 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,838/yr.
59 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,838/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Rockford, IL | Real change, Canton → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $68,999 | +3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $83,482 | +3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $100,059 | +3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $118,984 | +3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $140,604 | +3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $64,200 | $62,286 (−20.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $107,640 | $104,430 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $75,260 | $73,016 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $80,930 | $78,517 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.