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Living in
Wauconda.
About
Life in Wauconda
Living in Wauconda means settling into a stable, family-oriented suburb that's genuinely affordable compared to much of the Chicago metro—median home values hover around $278,600 and household incomes average $111,239, which speaks to who actually lives here: established families, working professionals, and people who've chosen this place because it works for them long-term. The job market isn't flashy, but with a 4.7% unemployment rate and reasonable commute times to Chicago (around 30 minutes via Routes 12, 176, and 59), most residents either find local work or make the daily drive manageable; O'Hare is about 40 minutes away if you need international airport access. Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 serves the area, which matters if you're raising kids, and the community itself skews toward married couples with children—about 35% of households have kids under 18, and the median age is 40, so you're looking at an established neighborhood feel rather than a transient one.
Wauconda at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Foreign-Born
12.3%
Broadband Internet
96.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Wauconda: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wauconda, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (60.8%), and 15.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.1%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.3%
of households
Married Couples
52.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Wauconda
In Wauconda, rent runs 8% above the IL average, and home values are 6% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,525
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $349,467 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Wauconda and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Wauconda, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Wauconda: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wauconda is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wauconda Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute31.3 min avg
How Wauconda residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wauconda, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 87% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wauconda runs 87% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
42.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
113.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wauconda Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Wauconda, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $70,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Wauconda is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Wauconda, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Wauconda is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wauconda has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
43.1"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
140
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 14°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 33°F | 16°F | 1.93" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 2.49" |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 3.95" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.38" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.19" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 3.20" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 2.47" |
| Dec | 34°F | 20°F | 2.12" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wauconda
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wauconda's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Barrington
Northwestern Medicine Mchenry
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Mchenry
Mercyhealth Hospital & Physician Clinic-crystal La
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Crystal Lake
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wauconda
Wauconda's student/teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wauconda (within 15 miles)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
13.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 123 students · 57% graduate · median earnings $67,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wauconda
Wauconda has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wauconda
Wauconda Area Public Library District
801 North Main Street, Wauconda
Cities Near Wauconda
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wauconda?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wauconda FAQ
Is Wauconda, Illinois affordable?⌄
Wauconda's median rent is $1,371/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $111,239/year. Median home value is $278,600.
Is Wauconda, Illinois safe?⌄
Wauconda's violent crime rate was 43 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 114 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wauconda, Illinois?⌄
Lake County, which includes Wauconda, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wauconda, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Wauconda is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,371/month and median household income is $111,239/year. The median home value is $278,600. About 27% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wauconda, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Wauconda is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from