Waukegan, Illinois Income Statistics
Waukegan Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Waukegan Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Waukegan | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,030 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,539 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.2% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Waukegan is about 15% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing faster in Waukegan (5.3%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Waukegan earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Waukegan, Illinois grew by 49.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,030 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Waukegan
| Metric | Waukegan | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.546 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,502 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,951 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.4% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Waukegan, it is 0.546, about the same as Illinois's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Waukegan, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $264,285 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waukegan, Illinois has narrowed from about 17% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2010, and was narrowest at 11% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,367 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Waukegan | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.6% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 3,082 people are unemployed in Waukegan, Illinois.
The average commute time in Waukegan is 23 minutes, about the same as in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Waukegan, Illinois has fallen from 11.4% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 6.0% in 2022.
Waukegan, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Waukegan, IL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan, IL | 86,567 | $71,030 #2/3 | 5.3%/yr #1/3 | 6.6% #3/3 | 0.546 #3/3 |
| North Chicago, IL | 25,553 | $59,799 | 4.8%/yr | 6.1% | 0.527 |
| Gurnee, IL | 23,970 | $116,909 | 4.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.533 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Waukegan, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Illinois, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Waukegan, Illinois.
How Rich Is Waukegan, Illinois?
Waukegan has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $71,030, about 15% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Waukegan, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Waukegan, Illinois rose 50%, from $47,394 to $71,030. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +50% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Waukegan in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Waukegan, Illinois was $70,216, up 7% from $65,648 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Waukegan in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Waukegan, Illinois was $53,957. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $71,030.
What is the Gini coefficient in Waukegan, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Waukegan is 0.546. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Waukegan, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waukegan, Illinois has narrowed from about 17% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2010, and was narrowest at 11% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,367 since 2009.
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