Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
9
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
38% less violent crime than Waukegan
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,609 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($164,400 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,423)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°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 Irving by $10,609/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$10,609
$76,686 vs $66,077/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
38% lower
275.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$95k less
$164,400 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($76,686 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.