Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,945 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($164,400 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,472)
5% less violent crime than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°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 Tempe by $5,945/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$5,945
$72,022 vs $66,077/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Violent Crime
5% lower
445.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$218k less
$164,400 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Tempe 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 Tempe to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $164,400 median home), income ($72,022 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Waukegan, IL are about 1,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.