Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077
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.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $26,626 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Waukegan
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($164,400 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,446)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $26,626/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$26,626
$92,703 vs $66,077/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
24% lower
339.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$175k less
$164,400 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Waukegan wins 6. 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 Chesapeake to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Waukegan, IL are about 730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.