Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,889 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($164,400 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,742)
9% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $20,889/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$20,889
$86,966 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
9% lower
445.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$314k less
$164,400 vs $478,400
Waukegan
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Waukegan
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories. Kent wins 9 and Waukegan wins 14. 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 Kent to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.