Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waukegan, IL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Waukegan
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
89,435
Westminster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $613k less ($164,400 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $845/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $14,194/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,194 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waukegan
Key Differences at a Glance
Waukegan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$613k less
$164,400 vs $777,100
Waukegan
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$14,194
$80,271 vs $66,077/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waukegan, IL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,132 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,077 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.5% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Waukegan CUSD 60 | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 43.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,435 | 90,638 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waukegan's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Waukegan wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Waukegan to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $777,100 median home), income ($66,077 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waukegan, IL and Westminster, CA are about 1,733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.