Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 30°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,132)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $11,026/yr
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
52% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $11,026 more per year on average
Homes cost $33k less ($164,400 vs $197,200)
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 10% higher than Greensboro
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$11,026
$66,077 vs $55,051/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
52% lower
445.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$33k less
$164,400 vs $197,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 13 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 Greensboro to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($55,051 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Waukegan, IL are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.