Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Indianapolis leads 14 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ 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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,132)
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Waukegan by $6,967/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Homes cost $20k less ($164,400 vs $184,600)
Households earn $6,967 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Indianapolis
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$6,967
$66,077 vs $59,110/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
49% lower
445.2 vs 877.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$20k less
$164,400 vs $184,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 14 of 23 categories. Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($59,110 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Waukegan, IL are about 200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.