Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ 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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $12,949 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 30°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($164,400 vs $383,000)
38% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,464)
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 Colorado Springs by $12,949/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$12,949
$79,026 vs $66,077/yr
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
38% lower
445.2 vs 715.6 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$219k less
$164,400 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 14 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 Colorado Springs to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($79,026 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Waukegan, IL are about 917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.