Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
11% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $16,861 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($164,400 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
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 Sparks by $16,861/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$16,861
$82,938 vs $66,077/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
11% lower
394.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$259k less
$164,400 vs $423,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 14 and Waukegan wins 9. 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 Sparks to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($82,938 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Waukegan, IL are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.