Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
14
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.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 30°F
Households earn $7,438 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($164,400 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $499/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,631)
38% less violent crime than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $7,438/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$7,438
$73,515 vs $66,077/yr
Pomona
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
38% lower
445.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$360k less
$164,400 vs $524,700
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 21.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 14 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 9 and Waukegan wins 14. 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 Pomona to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($73,515 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.