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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 experiences four distinct seasons with 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. The area receives 29.7 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average51.0°F
6% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days263 days/yr

Geography

Elevation722 ft (220 m)
Area23.9 sq mi (61.8 km²)
Population Density3,665/sq mi
Coordinates42.3694°N, 87.8709°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportKenosha Regional (ENW)
16 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 37.7"
1% below US avg
Snowfall 29.7"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.02"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.30"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0480 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score96.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability14.1 / 100
Community Resilience78.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

7 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M3.1 on Jul 15, 2024.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 132 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 68 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 148 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 63 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 106 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 46 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 67 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

435 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 102 fatalities, 2,127 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 86 km 29
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 79 km 1
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 99 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 79 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 10 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 78 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 88 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 41 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 45 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 74 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 79 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 43 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 90 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 99 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 91 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 97 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 39 km 0
Nov 22, 2010 EF2 90 km 0
Jul 22, 2010 EF2 61 km 0
Jun 21, 2010 EF2 76 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 110 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: IBSP SOUTH F1 RX (690 ac, 2024).

Year Name Acres Distance
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 6 km
2024 RX-HWY Y - SOUTH 553 98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 1.7 in
February 25°F (-4°C) 1.3 in Coldest, Driest
March 35°F (2°C) 2.5 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.6 in
May 56°F (14°C) 3.3 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.7 in
July 72°F (22°C) 3.8 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in Wettest
September 62°F (17°C) 3.7 in
October 51°F (11°C) 2.4 in
November 38°F (4°C) 2.5 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 2.2 in

Waukegan has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 25°F in February to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.3").

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