Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077
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.
Henderson, NV
Pros
39% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $19,234 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($164,400 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,641)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Henderson by $19,234/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Median Income
$19,234
$85,311 vs $66,077/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
39% lower
272.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Henderson
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$264k less
$164,400 vs $427,900
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories. Henderson 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 Henderson to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($85,311 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Waukegan, IL are about 1,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.