Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 30°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $12,653/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $12,653 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°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 11% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$12,653
$66,077 vs $53,424/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
33% lower
445.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 ($158,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Waukegan, IL are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.