Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 15 of 22 categories
Elgin
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
7
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.
Elgin, IL
Pros
40% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $19,921 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($164,400 vs $242,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.3%)
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 Elgin by $19,921/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$19,921
$85,998 vs $66,077/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
40% lower
266.7 vs 445.2 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$78k less
$164,400 vs $242,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin'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, Elgin leads 15 of 22 categories. Elgin 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 Elgin to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($85,998 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Waukegan, IL are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.