Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
15
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.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,133 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $460k less ($164,400 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $753/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,885)
10% less violent crime than Santa Ana
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 21.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $18,133/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Income
$18,133
$84,210 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
10% lower
445.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$460k less
$164,400 vs $624,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 21.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories. Santa Ana wins 8 and Waukegan wins 15. 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 Santa Ana to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($84,210 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.