Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Waukegan
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 30°F
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Rent averages $177/mo less ($955 vs $1,132)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $9,751/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Households earn $9,751 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than McAllen
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
66% lower
150.0 vs 445.2 per 100k
McAllen
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$9,751
$66,077 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 18 and Waukegan wins 5. 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 McAllen to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($56,326 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 1,261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.