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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Rockford, IL vs Chicago, IL

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Chicago spends 44.0% more per capita than Rockford ($15,203/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Rockford, IL
Pop. 148,173
C
59/100
Budget Balance36
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency65
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Rockford
Chicago
Total Spending
$2.9B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$19,348
$34,551
Total Revenue
$915.4M
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$6,178
$85,083
Total Debt
$0
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$977
Population
148,173
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Rockford$0
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
Rockford$0
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
Rockford$2,329
Chicago$122
Health
Rockford$593
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RockfordChicago
Property Tax
$0
$26
Sales Tax
$749
$74
Income Tax
$0
$229
Intergovernmental
$6,178
$85,083
Charges & Fees
$2,152
$2,847
Other
$2,314
$3,463

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RockfordChicago
Fire Protection
$0
$10,754
Highways & Roads
$0
$930
Public Welfare
$724
$1,858
Health
$593
$426
Hospitals
$0
$1,444
Parks & Recreation
$2,329
$122
Housing
$4,267
$6,520
Sewerage
$0
$129
Utilities
$1,320
$2,983
Other
$10,115
$9,385
C
Rockford, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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