Moving to Waukegan, IL in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

The cost of living is much lesser here as you could own or rent a home, buy groceries, commute on public transport, or avail healthcare facilities on a pocket-friendly budget.

How is the housing market in Waukegan, Illinois?

Perhaps the affordable realty prices draw more people to Waukegan. Despite being more like a Chicago suburb, it is easier to either buy or rent a home here. A normal house costs about 78% cheaper than Chicago. Now you can realize how the other expenses here will be. A house in Waukegan costs about $181,800 and about 55% of the population own a house here, which offers a ray of hope for everyone packing their bags for here.

We’ve got the latest city housing facts for you.

• Waukegan’s median home cost is $181,800
• The median age of Waukegan’s real estate is 53 years old
• The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been 50.1%
• Renters make up 44.1% of the Waukegan population
• About 2.9% of houses and apartments in Waukegan are available to rent

Average rental prices in Waukegan, Illinois

At Waukegan, it is not just home prices but even home rentals are cheaper. This means, renting a normal home won’t need you to rob a bank. We’ve researched the average home rental in the city and the details may help you.

• Waukegan’s average rent for a studio apartment is $1,040
• Waukegan’s average rent for a 1-bedroom home or apartment is $1,140
• Waukegan’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $1,300
• Waukegan’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $1,650
• Waukegan’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $1,960

Waukegan is home to several large manufacturers such as American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., USG Corporation and General Motors Corp., along with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer Inc., Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie Inc.

And we’ve got a few job-related facts in Waukegan, which may benefit you.

• The job growth in Waukegan has been positive
• The future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 30.5%
• The unemployment rate here is 10.2%
• Jobs have increased by 2.4% over the past year
• The average salary in Waukegan is $45,983
• The median household income of a Waukegan resident is $45,983 a year
• The median home cost in Waukegan is $181,800

Here is a breakdown table to better understand the Waukegan job market.

Fastest growing jobs in Waukegan, IL

Waukegan’s economy is booming and it results in job growth. There are many opportunities to try in Waukegan and surrounding areas. When you have a list of jobs that are high in demand, it becomes easier to make moving decisions. You’d know whether you will find a decent one in just days after reaching here. And fortunately, we’ve got a list of 10 fastest-growing jobs in Waukegan and neighboring areas.

Here are the top 10 fastest-growing jobs in Waukegan and surrounding areas.

Top career options in Waukegan, IL

What are the jobs in Waukegan that pay you the best? You would be curious to know the highest paying jobs to ensure you are fit to get one. And realizing this, we’ve made a list of the highest-paying jobs.

Here are the highest-paying jobs in Waukegan

What's the average salary & income in Waukegan, IL?

The paycheck is a major factor in determining your lifestyle and it is normal to be curious to know the average pay scale here. While the salary slip would be based on many factors including your proficiency, industry type, and designation, there are some common factors you need to know.

The average income of a Waukegan resident is $20,333 a year. Anything above $34,000 is a good salary here as you’ll be earning more than 50% of the city's population.

Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Waukegan.

• Waukegan’s average annual pay for average jobs is $20,333 a year
• Waukegan’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $16.35 an hour
• Waukegan’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $653 per week
• Waukegan’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $2,833 per month
• Waukegan’s top earners (90th percentile) make $69,000 annually

Major industries in Waukegan

As you are on the last leg of packing the bags to Waukegan, it would be good to know the major businesses here. To help you, we’ve listed them out for you.

• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Retail
• Hospitality
• Finance
• Transportation
• Manufacturing

Best companies to work for if you’re moving to Waukegan, IL

Once you’re here, you would need to go on job hunting and when you have a list of the best employers in the city, it becomes easier to apply for a job. Check our list of best companies to work in Waukegan.

Here’s our best company list

• Yaskawa America
• Lake County
• Woodland Foods
• Arlington
• Peer Bearing
• Visual Pak
• LCP
• Aldon
• JST Corporation
• Deublin Company

Here are a few tax-related facts in Waukegan

• The sales tax rate for Waukegan is 8.3%. The US average is 7.3%
• The income tax rate for Waukegan is 5.0%. The US average is 4.6%
• The average property tax rate in Waukegan is 2.08%

Once you move here, be ready to explore the unlimited fun that would keep your holidays and weekends occupied. We’ve got a list of the 10 best things to do in Waukegan, IL

• Admire Waukegan Harbor Light
• Watch a show at Jack Benny Center for the Arts
• Wander out on Waukegan Municipal Beach
• Catch a concert at Genesee Theatre
• Check out Waukegan’s Art Scene at ArtWauk
• Spend a day at Bowen Park
• Go fishing with Windycitysalmon Fishing Charters
• Take your family to People’s Choice Family Fun Center
• Take history classes at the Waukegan History Museum
• Enjoy nature at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve

How safe is Waukegan, IL?

Despite many positives that prompt you to settle in Waukegan, there is a factor that pulls you back – crime. Waukegan records a high crime rate in comparison to many Illinois cities. However, there is a 10% drop in crimes in the last few years, especially in burglary, auto theft, and aggravated assault. About 40% of the population feels safer in Waukegan while 11% lament over the high crime rate.

To help you know the crime stats in Waukegan, we’ve got a few facts.

• The violent crime rate in Waukegan is 27.8 while the US average is 22.7
• The city’s property crime is 39.2 while the US average is 35.4
• Your chance of being a violent crime victim here is 1 in 318
• Your chance of being a property crime victim is 1 in 64 in Waukegan
• About 40% of the city population feels safe in the city

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.