Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $63k less ($101,500 vs $164,400)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($809 vs $1,132)
16% less violent crime than Waukegan
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $22,942/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Households earn $22,942 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Erie
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
16% lower
375.6 vs 445.2 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$63k less
$101,500 vs $164,400
Waukegan
Median Income
$22,942
$66,077 vs $43,135/yr
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Erie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Waukegan, IL are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.