Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
5
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.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
87% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $38,786 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 30°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($164,400 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,311)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $38,786/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than O'Fallon
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$38,786
$104,863 vs $66,077/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
87% lower
59.0 vs 445.2 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$119k less
$164,400 vs $283,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories. O'Fallon wins 18 and Waukegan wins 5. 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 O'Fallon to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($104,863 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Waukegan, IL are about 289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.