Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Livonia leads 19 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
49% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $26,381 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($164,400 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,235)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $26,381/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Livonia
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Income
$26,381
$92,458 vs $66,077/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
49% lower
228.1 vs 445.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$85k less
$164,400 vs $249,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 19 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 19 and Waukegan wins 4. 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 Livonia to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($92,458 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Waukegan, IL are about 230 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.