Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ 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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,280 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($164,400 vs $458,600)
48% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,254)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $6,280/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$6,280
$72,357 vs $66,077/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
48% lower
445.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$294k less
$164,400 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 43.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($72,357 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Waukegan, IL are about 1,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.