Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $16,709 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($164,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,665)
43% less violent crime than Lakewood
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $16,709/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$16,709
$82,786 vs $66,077/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
43% lower
445.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$330k less
$164,400 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 13 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 Lakewood to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $164,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Waukegan, IL are about 916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.