Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($164,400 vs $332,700)
47% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,509)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
47% lower
445.2 vs 835.8 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$168k less
$164,400 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 22 categories. Orlando 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 Orlando to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($66,292 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Waukegan, IL are about 1,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.