Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
6
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($164,400 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,422)
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
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Median Income
$725
$66,802 vs $66,077/yr
Tampa
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$169k less
$164,400 vs $333,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories. Tampa wins 17 and Waukegan wins 6. 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 Tampa to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($66,802 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Waukegan, IL are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.