Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $20,479 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($164,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $20,479/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$20,479
$86,556 vs $66,077/yr
Austin
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
5% lower
445.2 vs 466.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$297k less
$164,400 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and Waukegan wins 11. 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 Austin to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.