Living in Waukegan, IL
Suburb in Illinois
Waukegan is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 89,000 people, with 2.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Waukegan a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 79°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $253k and rents for $2,290 a month
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 2.57% property tax
- Fewer graduates: 21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Few dog parks: 5 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Waukegan ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Waukegan: common questions
What is the cost of living in Waukegan?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $253k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Waukegan?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.57% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Waukegan safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Waukegan?
Waukegan has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 33°F and summer days around 79°F, with roughly 43″ of snow a year.
Does Waukegan get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.87 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Waukegan?
The nearest major airport is ORD, about 27 mi away.
How Waukegan scores
Each bar compares Waukegan with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Waukegan right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.