The 4 Reasons So Many Are Leaving Rockford and Winnebago County

While many county residents are packing to move out of the area, many of them believe there's hope for our future but they can't afford to wait for the change.

Several community leaders came together for a luncheon at the Rockford Area Association of Realtors (RAAR) building on Wednesday (7/22), to discuss the issue of why so many people are leaving Rockford and Winnebago County. A study by Strategic Guidance Systems was commissioned by RAAR, and here are the major reason that study found for the mass exodus.

• Jobs or better paying jobs
• Lower taxes
• Retirees moving to be near family
• Retirees and Non-retirees heading to warmer climates

So what about the perception that the Rockford area is just a miserable place to live and people just want to leave? Joel Searby from Strategic Guidance Systems, who was commissioned to do the study says that's not what he found.

From MyStateline.com:

One of the most important things we found is there a lot of people that are here that want to be here, that want to build their families here and they want to see the future of Rockford be prosperous,”  says Searby.

If you're contemplating leaving the area, what's your reason?