Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tucson, AZ
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 30°F
Rent averages $141/mo less ($991 vs $1,132)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $14,028/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
24% less violent crime than Tucson
Homes cost $54k less ($164,400 vs $218,200)
Households earn $14,028 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tucson
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tucson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$14,028
$66,077 vs $52,049/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
24% lower
445.2 vs 588.8 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$54k less
$164,400 vs $218,200
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tucson, AZ | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $218,200 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $991 ✓ Lower | $1,132 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,049 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 156⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tucson Unified District (4403) | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.1" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,033 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tucson's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories. Tucson wins 13 and Waukegan wins 10. 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 Tucson to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($218,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($52,049 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tucson, AZ and Waukegan, IL are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.