Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 30°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Waukegan by $7,343/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
46% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $7,343 more per year on average
Homes cost $17k less ($164,400 vs $181,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lubbock
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$7,343
$66,077 vs $58,734/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
46% lower
445.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$17k less
$164,400 vs $181,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 15 and Waukegan wins 8. 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 Lubbock to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,734 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.