Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
12
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,541 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $460k less ($164,400 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,853)
52% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $20,541/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$20,541
$86,618 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
52% lower
445.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$460k less
$164,400 vs $624,800
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Waukegan
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 11 and Waukegan wins 12. 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 Richmond to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($86,618 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.