Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Abilene leads 16 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $6,823/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Households earn $6,823 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.8%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
5% lower
424.5 vs 445.2 per 100k
Abilene
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$6,823
$66,077 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 16 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 16 and Waukegan wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.