The Town FilesRockford, Michigan
City in Kent County · population 6,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,400
- Household income
- $107,121
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 38.5
Rockford is a city of 6,142 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $334,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 95% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Rockford ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rockford is worth $334,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $107,121, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,111 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,111 | $955 |
| Median household income | $107,121 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Rockford
| People | Rockford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 23.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rockford
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 273 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Rockford itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Rockford
13 public schools with 7,241 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford High School | 9-12 | 1,823 | 20.0 |
| North Rockford Middle School | 6-8 | 914 | 16.3 |
| East Rockford Middle School | 6-8 | 785 | 17.4 |
| Valley View Elementary School | K-5 | 617 | 17.1 |
| Rockford HS Freshman Center | 9-9 | 558 | 18.0 |
| Lakes Elementary School | K-5 | 502 | 16.7 |
| Crestwood Elementary School | K-5 | 468 | 16.1 |
| Meadow Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 432 | 14.9 |
| Rockford Spanish Immersion | K-5 | 306 | 25.5 |
| Roguewood Elementary School | K-5 | 295 | 18.4 |
| Parkside Elementary School | PK-5 | 270 | 14.2 |
| Cannonsburg Elementary School | K-5 | 231 | 16.5 |
Towns near Rockford
- Algoma, MI3.6 mi · 12,055 people · home $357,600
- Courtland, MI4.1 mi · 9,005 people · home $359,300
- Plainfield, MI5.2 mi · 33,535 people · home $326,900
- Cannon, MI5.4 mi · 14,379 people · home $460,700
- Cedar Springs, MI5.8 mi · 3,627 people · home $214,000
- Northview, MI7.2 mi · 15,301 people · home $289,300
- Sparta, MI8.0 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
- Sparta, MI8.8 mi · 9,395 people · home $231,600
Rockford questions
Is Rockford, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockford scores better for retirees than 53% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Rockford?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockford is valued at $334,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,121, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,111 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockford?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 65.1 inches of snow.
Does Rockford get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)