Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waukegan, IL
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Westminster
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($164,400 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,732)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $24,574/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
32% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $24,574 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Waukegan
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$303k less
$164,400 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$24,574
$90,651 vs $66,077/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
32% lower
303.6 vs 445.2 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waukegan, IL | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,132 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,077 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.5% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Waukegan CUSD 60 | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 43.4" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,435 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waukegan's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories. Waukegan wins 9 and Westminster wins 14. 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 $467,200 median home), income ($66,077 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waukegan, IL and Westminster, CO are about 909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.