Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Waukegan
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($164,400 vs $219,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,255)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hampton
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
44% lower
247.6 vs 445.2 per 100k
Hampton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$1,647
$66,077 vs $64,430/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$55k less
$164,400 vs $219,800
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 15 and Waukegan wins 8. 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 Hampton to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,430 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Waukegan, IL are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.