Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Victorville, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Victorville, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($164,400 vs $300,600)
56% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,461)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Victorville
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Violent Crime
56% lower
445.2 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$136k less
$164,400 vs $300,600
Waukegan
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Victorville, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $300,600 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,461⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,746 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 40.5 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (57) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.4% | 21.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.3% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Victor Elementary | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 5.6" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 134,417 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.7% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Victorville's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waukegan leads 15 of 23 categories. Victorville wins 8 and Waukegan wins 15. 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 Victorville to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($300,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($65,746 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Victorville, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.