2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lake Forest, IL vs Waukegan, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Waukegan older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in Waukegan is 12.2 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Waukegan or Lake Forest?
- Waukegan housing costs are 79.8% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Waukegan or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of Waukegan is 5.0 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Lake Forest.

Things to do in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest, Illinois is a vibrant city located in Lake County. With its many shops and restaurants, it’s the perfect destination for those seeking an enjoyable night out or a fun day of shopping. For outdoor fans, Lake Forest offers beautiful parks and trails, plus beaches along the shore of Lake Michigan. Families looking to move to the area can rest assured that there are multiple schools with outstanding educational programs. Lake Forest has something to offer everyone — whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a great place to live.

Things to do in Waukegan?
Waukegan, Illinois sits on Lake Michigan’s banks boasting 30 miles worth of sandy beaches perfect for sunbathing or playing beach volleyball along with other activities such as biking trails around Bowen Park or fly fishing in Mill Creek.

 Lake Forest, ILWaukegan, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,751329,725,481
 Median Income$194,267  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock34.238.4
 Avg. Home Price$898,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock10.2%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.2  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Lake Forest    4 Reviews

We relocated cross county to Lake Forest about a year ago due to a job change. We looked at nearby communities, within proximity of the work commute (the office is in  More

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Be prepared for a so called upscale town with entitled, overpaid, snooty people from teenagers who sneer at you to adults who look you up and down, who make demands on a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Long cold winters, short cold springs, hot humid summers, nice  More

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Reviews for Waukegan    3 Reviews

Great people, beautifully diverse. All live and work together to provide the best for all residents. Lake County College is completing a 40 million dollar building  More

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Over 12 years ago

We're looking for a moderate climate. Waukegan is on Lake Michigan and could have a dynamic vibrant downtown but it doesn't. Great master plan if somehow Waukegan can  More

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Over 17 years ago

I have been living in north east waukegan for 12 years and I am excited by the recent surge of growth in the downtown area. Thanks to the Genesee theater, there are  More

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