Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
12% less violent crime than Waukegan
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $11,637/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Waukegan
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $63k less ($164,400 vs $227,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $11,637 more per year on average
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,369)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
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
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
12% lower
392.9 vs 445.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$11,637
$66,077 vs $54,440/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$63k less
$164,400 vs $227,200
Waukegan
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories. Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($54,440 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Waukegan, IL are about 760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.