Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,332 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 30°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($164,400 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,907)
25% less violent crime than Oxnard
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $24,332/yr
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
Oxnard
Median Income
$24,332
$90,409 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
25% lower
445.2 vs 596.4 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$423k less
$164,400 vs $587,200
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Waukegan
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 21.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 8 and Waukegan wins 15. 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 Oxnard to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($90,409 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,779 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.