Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
13
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.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $13,008 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($164,400 vs $415,300)
58% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,489)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
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 Tacoma by $13,008/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Income
$13,008
$79,085 vs $66,077/yr
Waukegan
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
58% lower
445.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$251k less
$164,400 vs $415,300
Waukegan
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 13 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 10 and Waukegan wins 13. 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 Tacoma to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($79,085 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.