Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Midland leads 16 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
7
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $24,371 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Waukegan
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($164,400 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $24,371/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Midland
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$24,371
$90,448 vs $66,077/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
18% lower
364.9 vs 445.2 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$116k less
$164,400 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Midland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 16 of 23 categories. Midland 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 Midland to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($90,448 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Waukegan, IL are about 1,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.