Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($164,400 vs $349,500)
16% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,224)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$1,463
$67,540 vs $66,077/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.4 on the COL index
Waukegan
Violent Crime
16% lower
445.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$185k less
$164,400 vs $349,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Salem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Salem 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 Salem to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($67,540 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Waukegan, IL are about 1,753 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.