Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Rent averages $187/mo less ($945 vs $1,132)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
More college-educated — 26.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Waukegan by $20,110/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
64% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $20,110 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
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 16% higher than Shreveport
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$20,110
$66,077 vs $45,967/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
64% lower
445.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Waukegan
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 12 and Waukegan wins 11. 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 Shreveport to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($45,967 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Waukegan, IL are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.