Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Hillsboro leads 14 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ 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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $32,814 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Waukegan
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Waukegan
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($164,400 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $665/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,797)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $32,814/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$32,814
$98,891 vs $66,077/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
29% lower
317.7 vs 445.2 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Waukegan
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$288k less
$164,400 vs $452,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 14 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 14 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 Hillsboro to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Waukegan, IL are about 1,744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.