Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $14,283 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($164,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,660)
18% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
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 Federal Way by $14,283/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$14,283
$80,360 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
18% lower
445.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$290k less
$164,400 vs $454,300
Waukegan
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Waukegan wins 13. 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 Federal Way to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.