Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Mesa leads 16 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $7,689 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($164,400 vs $327,700)
8% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mesa by $7,689/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Mesa
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Income
$7,689
$73,766 vs $66,077/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
8% lower
445.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$163k less
$164,400 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 16 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 16 and Waukegan wins 7. 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 Mesa to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($73,766 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Waukegan, IL are about 1,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.