Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Hollywood
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($164,400 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,463)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
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
Hollywood
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$4,119
$66,077 vs $61,958/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$181k less
$164,400 vs $345,300
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Hollywood wins 10 and Waukegan wins 10. 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 Hollywood to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($61,958 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Waukegan, IL are about 1,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.