Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Waukegan
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($164,400 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,385)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Bellingham
Violent Crime
21% lower
350.0 vs 445.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Waukegan
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$2,051
$66,077 vs $64,026/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$364k less
$164,400 vs $528,600
Waukegan
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham 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 Bellingham to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,715 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.