Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($164,400 vs $466,300)
14% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,385)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$1,598
$66,077 vs $64,479/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
14% lower
445.2 vs 518.1 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$302k less
$164,400 vs $466,300
Waukegan
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 11 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 Arden-Arcade to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,769 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.