Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Milwaukee leads 12 of 22 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
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.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Rent averages $150/mo less ($982 vs $1,132)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $16,344/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $16,344 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Milwaukee
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Income
$16,344
$66,077 vs $49,733/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
69% lower
445.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 29.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Milwaukee leads 12 of 22 categories. Milwaukee wins 12 and Waukegan wins 10. 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 Milwaukee to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($49,733 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Waukegan, IL are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.