Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Rochester, MN
Pros
65% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $17,896 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($164,400 vs $268,800)
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,218)
Milder winters — January highs near 30°F vs 23°F
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rochester by $17,896/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$17,896
$83,973 vs $66,077/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
65% lower
154.0 vs 445.2 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$104k less
$164,400 vs $268,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 29.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 15 and Waukegan wins 7. 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 Rochester to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($83,973 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Waukegan, IL are about 258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.