Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,596 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($164,400 vs $304,500)
18% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chicago by $5,596/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$5,596
$71,673 vs $66,077/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Waukegan
Violent Crime
18% lower
445.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$140k less
$164,400 vs $304,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chicago wins 11 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 Chicago to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($71,673 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Waukegan, IL are about 38 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.