Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $188/mo less ($944 vs $1,132)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $9,196/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($164,400 vs $291,300)
Households earn $9,196 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
5% lower
423.7 vs 445.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$9,196
$66,077 vs $56,881/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$127k less
$164,400 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Waukegan wins 10. 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 Fayetteville to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Waukegan, IL are about 550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.