Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 14 of 22 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
8
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,132)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
34% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Homes cost $32k less ($164,400 vs $196,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
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 12% higher than Oklahoma City
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$1,826
$66,077 vs $64,251/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
34% lower
445.2 vs 676.0 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$32k less
$164,400 vs $196,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 14 of 22 categories. Oklahoma City wins 14 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 Oklahoma City to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,251 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Waukegan, IL are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.