Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,877 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($164,400 vs $450,500)
41% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $460/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,592)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sacramento by $12,877/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$12,877
$78,954 vs $66,077/yr
Sacramento
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
41% lower
445.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$286k less
$164,400 vs $450,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories. Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($78,954 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.