Urbana, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Urbana is moderately more affordable than Waukegan, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Urbana scores 76 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 Urbana is $951/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Urbana has cheaper rent, Waukegan actually has lower median home values ($177,600 vs $186,300).

Median household income in Urbana is $45,854 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (-35%). While Waukegan is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Urbana spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, Urbana is notably warmer with an average of 52.5°F compared to 48.3°F in Waukegan. Urbana receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 35.3" in Waukegan.