Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $26,215 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Waukegan
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($164,400 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,864)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $26,215/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$26,215
$92,292 vs $66,077/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
24% lower
339.2 vs 445.2 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Waukegan
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$412k less
$164,400 vs $576,800
Waukegan
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 23 categories. Renton wins 12 and Waukegan wins 11. 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 Renton to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($92,292 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.