Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
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.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,294 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $611k less ($164,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1128/mo less ($1,132 vs $2,260)
7% less violent crime than Hayward
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $39,294/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
Hayward
Median Income
$39,294
$105,371 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
7% lower
445.2 vs 477.1 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$611k less
$164,400 vs $775,700
Waukegan
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 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 | 145⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 11 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 Hayward to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($105,371 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.