Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 30°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $8,374/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
46% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Homes cost $66k less ($164,400 vs $230,500)
Households earn $8,374 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Chattanooga
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$8,374
$66,077 vs $57,703/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
46% lower
445.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$66k less
$164,400 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 15 and Waukegan wins 7. 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 Chattanooga to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Waukegan, IL are about 524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.