Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
6
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.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
31% less violent crime than Waukegan
Rent averages $228/mo less ($904 vs $1,132)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $7,844/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $7,844 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
31% lower
307.5 vs 445.2 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$12k less
$152,500 vs $164,400
Waukegan
Median Income
$7,844
$66,077 vs $58,233/yr
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 17 and Waukegan wins 6. 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 Fort Wayne to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Waukegan, IL are about 166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.