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Economy, jobs and prices in Waukegan, Illinois: official figures

The median household income in Waukegan was $71,919 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 306th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Illinois median $83,390.

Median household income
$71,919
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.4%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
26.1 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,205
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$190,900
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
50.2%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
90.0%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Waukegan?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Waukegan averaged $33,249 a year in 2020-2024, 195th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Illinois: $46,406).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Waukegan?

Waukegan's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.440 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 356th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Waukegan, Illinois?

6.4% of the civilian labor force in Waukegan was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,068 people), 218th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Illinois' 5.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Waukegan are working?

68.6% of Waukegan's 71,049 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 235th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Waukegan have jobs?

45,192 residents of Waukegan held civilian jobs, 63.6% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 489 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Waukegan?

The largest industry group for working residents of Waukegan was manufacturing (19.9% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (19.1%) and retail trade (11.9%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Waukegan work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 19.9% of working residents of Waukegan, 26th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.3% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Waukegan, Illinois?

Commuters in Waukegan took 26.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 316th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 7.3% travelled an hour or more and 21.4% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Waukegan get to work?

7.6% of workers living in Waukegan worked from home in 2020-2024, 92nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 70.1% drove to work alone, 16.1% carpooled, 2.1% used public transport and 0.9% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Waukegan, Illinois?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Waukegan was $1,205 a month in 2020-2024, 203rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Illinois: $1,274).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Waukegan?

Owner-occupied homes in Waukegan had a median value of $190,900 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 98th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Illinois: $263,300).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Waukegan?

The median home value in Waukegan was 2.7 times the median household income, 39th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Waukegan, Illinois own their home?

50.2% of the 32,042 occupied homes in Waukegan were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 15,952 were rented, 214th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Illinois: 67.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Waukegan have broadband?

90.0% of households in Waukegan had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 207th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Illinois: 90.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Waukegan have no internet?

7.4% of households in Waukegan (2,385) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 164th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 14.3% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Waukegan compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 518 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
515Orlando$72,336
516Hesperia$72,160
517Sarasota$72,105
518Waukegan$71,919
519Lincoln$71,867
520West New York$71,729
521Flagstaff$71,512
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 629 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
626Bakersfield$33,405
627Daytona Beach$33,371
628Sherman$33,342
629Waukegan$33,249
630Burlington$33,214
631East Orange$33,200
632Union City$33,175
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 468 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
465Stockton0.440
466St. Cloud0.440
467Newark0.440
468Waukegan0.440
469Idaho Falls0.440
470Oak Lawn0.440
471Peoria0.440
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 218 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
215Oakland6.4%
216Beaumont6.4%
217Palm Desert6.4%
218Waukegan6.4%
219Washington6.3%
220Yuma6.3%
221Hampton6.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 235 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
232Apple Valley68.7%
233Cuyahoga Falls68.7%
234Lancaster68.6%
235Waukegan68.6%
236Hendersonville68.6%
237Indianapolis68.6%
238Minnetonka68.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 316 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
313Kannapolis26.2
314Novi26.2
315Loveland26.2
316Waukegan26.1
317San Mateo26.1
318Parker26.1
319Rocklin26.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 732 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
729Wichita7.7%
730Jonesboro7.7%
731Bryan7.7%
732Waukegan7.6%
733Bridgeport7.6%
734Springdale7.6%
735Yakima7.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 241 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
238Tigard2.2%
239Tallahassee2.2%
240Tamarac2.1%
241Waukegan2.1%
242Dallas2.1%
243Homestead2.1%
244Eden Prairie2.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 26 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
23Troy20.8%
24Appleton20.6%
25Sioux City20.2%
26Waukegan19.9%
27Waterloo19.6%
28Janesville19.4%
29Royal Oak18.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 714 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
711Tracy19.2%
712Sanford19.2%
713San Ramon19.2%
714Waukegan19.1%
715Grapevine19.1%
716Middletown19.1%
717Marietta19.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 621 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
618Warner Robins$1,212
619Killeen$1,208
620Pawtucket$1,208
621Waukegan$1,205
622Columbia$1,204
623Gastonia$1,204
624Bloomington$1,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 726 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
723Warren$193,400
724Mobile$193,300
725Newark$192,300
726Waukegan$190,900
727Wichita$190,800
728Roanoke$190,500
729McAllen$190,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 782 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
779Cedar Rapids2.7x
780Jackson2.7x
781Waterloo2.7x
782Waukegan2.7x
783Albany2.6x
784Peoria2.6x
785Bloomington2.6x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 610 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
607Detroit50.3%
608Tampa50.3%
609Hillsboro50.2%
610Waukegan50.2%
611Santa Maria50.2%
612Sandy Springs50.2%
613Fresno50.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 617 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
614Meriden90.1%
615Springfield90.1%
616Bowling Green90.0%
617Waukegan90.0%
618Elkhart90.0%
619Fort Myers89.9%
620West Allis89.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Waukegan ranks 164 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
161Kansas City7.5%
162Boynton Beach7.5%
163Watsonville7.5%
164Waukegan7.4%
165Lawton7.4%
166Columbia7.4%
167Midwest City7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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