© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Waukegan.
About
Life in Waukegan
Living in Waukegan means affordable housing compared to Chicago's North Shore suburbs—median home values around $190,900 and rents near $1,205 monthly—though the city comes with its industrial heritage and environmental cleanup efforts that are still ongoing from past manufacturing contamination. The community is genuinely diverse with strong Catholic and Latino populations, and downtown has been revitalizing with new restaurants, galleries, and cultural events like ArtWauk and the Chicago Latino Film Festival, plus the beautifully restored Genesee Theatre. Weather follows typical Midwest patterns—hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters with Lake Michigan moderating extremes, so expect real seasonal shifts.
Waukegan at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Foreign-Born
31.0%
Broadband Internet
90.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Waukegan: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waukegan, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (58.2%), and 47.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.6%
of households
Married Couples
40.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.72
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 about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Waukegan
In Waukegan, home values are 27% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,759
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $247,411 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Waukegan and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Waukegan is 1.2 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Waukegan 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
Commute26.1 min avg
How Waukegan residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waukegan, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 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 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waukegan runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
375.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,554.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waukegan 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 Waukegan, 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
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Waukegan, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waukegan has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.3"
Annual Snowfall
43.4"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.41" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.52" |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.22" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.77" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.92" |
| Jun | 77°F | 56°F | 4.45" |
| Jul | 81°F | 62°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.59" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.57" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.26" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.86" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waukegan
Waukegan has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
16.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Vista Medical Center East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Lake Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
North Chicago VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.3 mi away · North Chicago
Midwestern Region Med Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Zion
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Lake Forest
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waukegan
Waukegan's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Waukegan (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,813 students · in-state tuition $58,902 · 76% graduate · median earnings $70,470 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 522 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 59% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (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, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waukegan
Waukegan has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
64 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waukegan
Waukegan Public Library
128 North County Street, Waukegan
Hinkston Park Field House Branch Library
800 North Baldwin Avenue, Waukegan
Cities Near Waukegan
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waukegan?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waukegan FAQ
Is Waukegan, Illinois affordable?⌄
Waukegan's median rent is $1,205/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $71,919/year. Median home value is $190,900.
Is Waukegan, Illinois safe?⌄
Waukegan's violent crime rate was 375 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1555 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waukegan, Illinois?⌄
Waukegan has an unemployment rate of 5.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waukegan, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Waukegan is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,205/month and median household income is $71,919/year. The median home value is $190,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waukegan, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Waukegan is 26 minutes, which is about 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