The Town FilesWaukegan, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 89,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,900
- Household income
- $71,919
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.5
Waukegan is a city of 89,321 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $190,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 92% of Illinois towns.
How Waukegan ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waukegan is worth $190,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $71,919, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,205 a month. 50.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waukegan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,205 | $960 |
| Median household income | $71,919 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 50.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Waukegan
| People | Waukegan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 31.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Waukegan
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukegan since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Waukegan itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Waukegan
23 public schools with 14,142 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan High School | 9-12 | 4,325 | 14.2 |
| John R Lewis Middle School | 6-8 | 762 | 17.7 |
| Miguel Juarez Middle School | 6-8 | 662 | 15.4 |
| Glenwood Elementary School | K-5 | 588 | 15.5 |
| Robert E Abbott Middle School | 6-8 | 585 | 15.4 |
| Jack Benny Middle School | 6-8 | 506 | 28.1 |
| Edith M Smith Middle School | 6-8 | 489 | 18.8 |
| Carman-Buckner Elem School | PK-5 | 485 | 12.8 |
| LEARN John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr (charter) | K-8 | 476 | 12.9 |
| North Elem School | PK-5 | 473 | 22.5 |
| Lyon Magnet Elementary School | K-5 | 471 | 19.6 |
| Oakdale Elem School | PK-5 | 466 | 23.3 |
Towns near Waukegan
- Park City, IL1.5 mi · 7,885 people · home $57,400
- Gurnee, IL3.4 mi · 30,706 people · home $344,300
- North Chicago, IL3.7 mi · 30,759 people · home $159,600
- Beach Park, IL5.0 mi · 14,249 people · home $245,800
- Green Oaks, IL5.2 mi · 4,128 people · home $673,100
- Gages Lake, IL5.8 mi · 10,637 people · home $310,500
- Lake Bluff, IL6.1 mi · 5,616 people · home $776,700
- Grandwood Park, IL6.2 mi · 5,297 people · home $330,500
Waukegan questions
Is Waukegan, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waukegan scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 1%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Waukegan?
The median owner-occupied home in Waukegan is valued at $190,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,919, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,205 a month.
What is the weather like in Waukegan?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 40.2 inches of snow.
Does Waukegan get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukegan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)