Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 22 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
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.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $6,931 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($164,400 vs $362,800)
16% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,466)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lowell by $6,931/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$6,931
$73,008 vs $66,077/yr
Lowell
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
16% lower
445.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$198k less
$164,400 vs $362,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 22 categories. Lowell wins 10 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 Lowell to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($73,008 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Waukegan, IL are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.