Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Norman leads 15 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
42% less violent crime than Waukegan
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,132)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 30°F
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $3,228/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($164,400 vs $224,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,228 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
42% lower
260.2 vs 445.2 per 100k
Norman
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$3,228
$66,077 vs $62,849/yr
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$61k less
$164,400 vs $224,900
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 15 of 23 categories. Norman wins 15 and Waukegan wins 8. 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 Norman to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($62,849 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Waukegan, IL are about 708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.