Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $8,633 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($164,400 vs $316,600)
28% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,296)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°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 Durham by $8,633/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$8,633
$74,710 vs $66,077/yr
Durham
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
28% lower
445.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$152k less
$164,400 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 15 and Waukegan wins 8. 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 Durham to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Waukegan, IL are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.