Population 33,174 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Rockford: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Rockford
Household size in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.86 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.85 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.72 people per household, Rockford sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.82, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.0 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.8 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 40.2, the median age in Rockford is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the wider Grand Rapids area, where the median age is 38.3. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rockford: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Compared with other Michigan cities, Rockford has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rockford
Renters in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Rockford is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Rockford: just 4.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Rockford has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Michigan cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Rockford has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only 11 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $870 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $873 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $903 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,380 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$510 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Rockford pays $1,380 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in the wider Grand Rapids area ($1,285). Rent has climbed $510 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rockford
Bachelor's degrees in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.9% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.2% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.2% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.4 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Rockford: 52.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 13.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.5% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.9% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.1% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.3% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Rockford: 97.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 32 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rockford
| Period | Rockford | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rockford runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rockford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | 2.72 | 40.2 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 1994 | $1,380 | 52.2% | 97.3% | 3.7% |
| Belmont | 2.79 | 43.8 | 6.4% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 1994 | $1,265 | 50.5% | 96.0% | 3.9% |
| Cannonsburg | 2.67 | 42.1 | 8.0% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 1996 | $1,569 | 60.0% | 96.9% | 5.4% |
| Edgerton | 2.82 | 42.5 | 7.0% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 1989 | $1,110 | 26.5% | 97.2% | 0.9% |
| Northview | 2.42 | 41.9 | 13.0% | 20.8% | 3.1% | 1979 | $1,330 | 39.7% | 95.1% | 3.4% |
| Cedar Springs | 2.59 | 42.9 | 10.3% | 12.9% | 4.8% | 1990 | $1,134 | 23.7% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Evans | 2.71 | 37.2 | 8.8% | 5.0% | 7.4% | 1990 | $1,113 | 26.8% | 94.6% | 2.5% |
| Grattan | 2.51 | 45.1 | 3.4% | 18.5% | 10.2% | 1990 | $1,152 | 27.6% | 96.5% | 7.2% |
| Parnell | 2.58 | 47.5 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 10.3% | 1990 | $1,563 | 42.8% | 97.3% | 3.1% |
| Sparta | 2.63 | 40.9 | 8.5% | 11.2% | 4.3% | 1979 | $1,004 | 29.2% | 92.5% | 6.2% |
| Comstock Park | 2.50 | 37.4 | 13.7% | 35.3% | 7.1% | 1986 | $1,270 | 29.8% | 91.3% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bel Air North, MD · Aguada, PR · Southington, CT · Butte, MT · Burlingame, CA · Black Lick, OH · Bixby, OK · Belvidere, IL · Barstow, CA · Banning, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rockford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.