Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vista, CA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Vista leads 14 of 23 categories
Vista
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392 ✓ 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.
Vista, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $22,638 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($164,400 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $870/mo less ($1,132 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $22,638/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
Vista
Median Income
$22,638
$88,715 vs $66,077/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
29% lower
316.4 vs 445.2 per 100k
Waukegan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$459k less
$164,400 vs $622,900
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vista, CA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $622,900⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,715 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.1 min | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.2% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vista Unified | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.2" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,392 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 14 of 23 categories. Vista 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 Vista to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($622,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($88,715 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vista, CA and Waukegan, IL are about 1,714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.