Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 High Point leads 14 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
9
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 30°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,132)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Waukegan by $7,495/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($164,400 vs $196,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $7,495 more per year on average
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 High Point
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$7,495
$66,077 vs $58,582/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$32k less
$164,400 vs $196,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ 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 | 117⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
High Point is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 14 of 23 categories. High Point wins 14 and Waukegan wins 9. 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 High Point to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,582 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Waukegan, IL are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.