Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tracy, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027 ✓ 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.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,640 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Waukegan
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Waukegan
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($164,400 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1030/mo less ($1,132 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $45,640/yr
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
Tracy
Median Income
$45,640
$111,717 vs $66,077/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
32% lower
301.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$453k less
$164,400 vs $617,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tracy, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $617,300⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,162⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,717 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 43.5 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (71) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.7" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,027 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.7% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracy's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories. Tracy 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 Tracy to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($617,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($111,717 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tracy, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.