Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,202 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $627k less ($164,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $857/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $33,202/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$33,202
$99,279 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
2% lower
445.2 vs 455.3 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$627k less
$164,400 vs $791,000
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Waukegan wins 11. 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 Fullerton to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($99,279 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.