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
$247,657 Zillow
$1,163
Median Rent
27.7% income on rent
48°F
Avg Temperature
457
Violent Crime/100K
1,665 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$70,578 median income, 5.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$177,600 home value, $1,163/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
457 violent crimes/100K (20% 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 48°F (9°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 35.3 inches. The area receives 43.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Temperature
23°F Jan (-5°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 48.3°F |
| 11% below US avg | |
| January Average | 23°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 722 ft (220 m) |
| Area | 23.9 sq mi (61.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,665/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.3694°N, 87.8709°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lake County County |
| Nearest Airport | Kenosha Regional (ENW) 16 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 82.0% |
| Unhealthy Days | 5 |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0480 ppm |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 14.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 78.1 / 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)
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.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°F (-5°C) | 1.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.5 in | |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 in | |
| May | 56°F (14°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 4.5 in | Wettest |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 3.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 71°F (21°C) | 3.6 in | |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 3.3 in | |
| November | 40°F (4°C) | 2.3 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.9 in |
Waukegan has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 23°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 35.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.5") and January the driest (1.4").