Best Life Index › States › Illinois › Cities › Waukegan

Illinois city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Waukegan?

What it costs to live in Waukegan, and how it compares with other Illinois cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

121st best value in Illinois

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Illinois cities.

Overall livability

28

152nd overall in Illinois

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Waukegan is home to about 89,751 people. A typical home runs $146,900 and a household earns around $58,800, a price-to-income ratio of 2.5. Among Illinois's largest cities, it ranks 121st for value and 152nd overall.

Waukegan at a glance

Median home price

$146,900

64th in IL of 163

Median rent

$1,023/mo

Median household income

$58,800

Home price to income

2.5x

Unemployment

6.4%

115th in IL of 163

School rating

4/10

135th in IL of 163

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IL of 163

Walk score

10/100

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‹ See all top Illinois cities ranked  ยท  Illinois state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Illinois only. Updated 2026.