Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $23,135 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($164,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $849/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,981)
29% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $23,135/yr
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
Boston
Median Income
$23,135
$89,212 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
29% lower
445.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$521k less
$164,400 vs $684,900
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 and Waukegan wins 13. 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 Boston to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Waukegan, IL are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.