Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 12 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ 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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,371 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($164,400 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $579/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,711)
25% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Riverside by $17,371/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$17,371
$83,448 vs $66,077/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
25% lower
445.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$321k less
$164,400 vs $485,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 12 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 10 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 Riverside to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($83,448 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.