Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.3%)
Median income trails Waukegan by $5,079/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($164,400 vs $254,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $5,079 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Norfolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$5,079
$66,077 vs $60,998/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
5% lower
445.2 vs 469.5 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$90k less
$164,400 vs $254,200
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 11 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 Norfolk to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($60,998 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Waukegan, IL are about 723 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.