Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waukegan, IL
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers 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
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($164,400 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $527/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,659)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
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 Yonkers by $12,131/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Yonkers, NY
Pros
30% less violent crime than Waukegan
Households earn $12,131 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Waukegan
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$292k less
$164,400 vs $456,500
Waukegan
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Median Income
$12,131
$78,208 vs $66,077/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
30% lower
311.8 vs 445.2 per 100k
Yonkers
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waukegan, IL | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,132 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,077 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Waukegan CUSD 60 | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.8°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 43.4" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,435 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waukegan's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories. Waukegan wins 9 and Yonkers 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $456,500 median home), income ($66,077 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waukegan, IL and Yonkers, NY are about 729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.