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Waukegan, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
88,919 Population 3,665/sq mi density
$70,578 Median Income $31,667 per capita
$177,600 Home Value $231,782 Zillow
$1,163 Median Rent 27.7% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 263 sunny days/yr
383 Violent Crime/100K 2,230 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$70,578 median income, 3.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$177,600 home value, $1,163/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
383 violent crimes/100K (1% above avg)
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Waukegan, IL

At a Glance

Median Income
$70,578
6% below
$31,667 per capita
Home Value
$177,600
37% below
Zillow: $231,782
Median Rent
$1,163/mo
0% below
27.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
383/100K
1% above
2,230/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
21.0%
38% below
76.5% high school+
Unemployment
3.6%
0% below
10.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
25% above
14.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
263 sunny days/yr

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)

Income
94%
Home Value
63%
Rent
100%
Poverty
88%
Bachelor's
62%
Unemployment
100%
Crime
101%
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 3.6% (0% below 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 $231,782. 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 383 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 1% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 2,230/100K. The murder rate is 1.2/100K.

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 51°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 263 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Data Overview

People

Population88,919
Median Age34.6 yrs
Density3,665/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.3%

Economy

B+
Median Income$70,578
Per Capita$31,667
Unemployment3.6%
Poverty10.9%
County GDP$82,869M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,751

Housing

A+
Home Value$177,600
Rent$1,163
Ownership50.9%
Zillow$231,782
Housing Units32,906
Rent Burden27.7%

Crime

F
Violent383/100K
Property2,230/100K
Murder1.2/100K
Assault212/100K
Burglary405/100K

Health

Obesity40.2%
Diabetes14.7%
Smoking14.3%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death5,610/100K

Climate

Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days263/yr
Rain37.7 in/yr
AQI43 (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.
10.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% 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.