Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $24,591 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Waukegan
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($164,400 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $769/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,901)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $24,591/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
Quincy
Median Income
$24,591
$90,668 vs $66,077/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
25% lower
335.1 vs 445.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$399k less
$164,400 vs $563,200
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 13 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 Quincy to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($90,668 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Waukegan, IL are about 860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.