Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Charlotte leads 13 of 22 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
9
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 30°F
Households earn $7,993 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($164,400 vs $312,800)
39% less violent crime than Charlotte
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,399)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charlotte by $7,993/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$7,993
$74,070 vs $66,077/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Charlotte
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
39% lower
445.2 vs 733.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$148k less
$164,400 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 13 of 22 categories. Charlotte wins 13 and Waukegan wins 9. 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 Charlotte to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Waukegan, IL are about 623 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.