Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($114,100 vs $164,400)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($906 vs $1,132)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $15,333/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $15,333 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$50k less
$114,100 vs $164,400
Waukegan
Median Income
$15,333
$66,077 vs $50,744/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
59% lower
445.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Waukegan
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 29.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 13 of 23 categories. Rockford 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 Rockford to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $164,400 median home), income ($50,744 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Waukegan, IL are about 61 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.