At a Glance
Median Income
$70,578
$31,667 per capita
Home Value
$177,600
Zillow: $247,657
Median Rent
$1,163/mo
27.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
457/100K
1,665/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
21.0%
76.5% high school+
Unemployment
5.3%
10.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
14.3% smoking rate
How Waukegan Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Waukegan's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Waukegan a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Waukegan residents earn a median household income of $70,578 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,667. The unemployment rate stands at 5.3% (47% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 19,967 business establishments, including 1,607 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Waukegan is $177,600 , 37% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $247,657. Median rent is $1,163/month, with 27.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1968.
Safety & Crime
Waukegan reports 457 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 20% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,665/100K. The murder rate is 5.7/100K.
Education
21.0% of adults in Waukegan hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(38% below the national average).
76.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Waukegan has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 35.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population88,919
Median Age34.6 yrs
Density3,665/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born31.2%
Veterans4.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$70,578
Per Capita$31,667
Unemployment5.3%
Poverty10.9%
County GDP$82,869M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,751
Housing
A+
Home Value$177,600
Rent$1,163
Ownership50.9%
Zillow$247,657
Housing Units32,906
Rent Burden27.7%
Crime
F
Violent457/100K
Property1,665/100K
Murder5.7/100K
Assault294/100K
Burglary272/100K
Health
Obesity40.2%
Diabetes14.7%
Smoking14.3%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death5,610/100K
Climate
Avg Temp48°F
Rain35.3 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation722 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+21.0%
High School+76.5%
Graduate+7.5%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 39% / D 60%
Commute26 min
Broadband88.1%
Internet Speed127 Mbps
EV Stations10
Libraries25
Did You Know?
Waukegan was founded in 1859.
The median home in Waukegan was built in 1968.
The nearest airport is Kenosha Regional (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.479 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
11.2% of the population has a disability.
31.2% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 127 Mbps.
There are 1,607 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 55 fatal vehicle crashes.