Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
14
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 30°F
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Waukegan by $7,728/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
72% less violent crime than Baltimore
Homes cost $39k less ($164,400 vs $202,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $7,728 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,235)
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
Baltimore
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 81.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.7 on the COL index
Waukegan
Median Income
$7,728
$66,077 vs $58,349/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
72% lower
445.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$39k less
$164,400 vs $202,900
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 9 and Waukegan wins 14. 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 Baltimore to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Waukegan, IL are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.