Normal, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Normal is moderately more affordable than Waukegan, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Normal scores 78 compared to 86 for Waukegan, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waukegan can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Normal is $974/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Normal has cheaper rent, Waukegan actually has lower median home values ($177,600 vs $199,900).

Median household income in Normal is $66,350 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (-6%). The higher salaries in Waukegan partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Normal spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, Normal is notably warmer with an average of 52.7°F compared to 48.3°F in Waukegan. Normal receives more rainfall at 37.6" per year compared to 35.3" in Waukegan.