Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Waukegan, IL

    Is Waukegan a good place to live?

    Watch Waukegan

    Waukegan ranks #48 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (46/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $177,600
    +8.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,163
    per month
    Household income
    $70,578
    median
    Unemployment
    5.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Waukegan

    The median home value in Waukegan is $177,600 and median rent is $1,163 a month, against a median household income of $70,578. Homes cost about 2.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Waukegan crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Waukegan, IL

    Waukegan has about 88,919 residents, 5.3% unemployment and 14% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Waukegan with

    Waukegan vs ChicagoWaukegan vs AuroraWaukegan vs JolietWaukegan vs NapervilleWaukegan vs RockfordWaukegan vs ElginWaukegan vs SpringfieldWaukegan vs Peoria

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report