Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vacaville, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Vacaville leads 14 of 23 categories
Vacaville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ 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.
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,687 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Waukegan
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Waukegan
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $396k less ($164,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1009/mo less ($1,132 vs $2,141)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $40,687/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
Vacaville
Median Income
$40,687
$106,764 vs $66,077/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
34% lower
293.2 vs 445.2 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$396k less
$164,400 vs $560,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vacaville, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,400⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,141⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,764 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vacaville Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.8" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,631 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vacaville's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 23 categories. Vacaville 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 Vacaville to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($106,764 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vacaville, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.